Royal Rabbit
Lakefront Brewery

Lakefront Brewery – Royal Rabbit (Imperial Hazy IPA)
ABV: 8.6%
Overall Score: 4.03

Look – 3.75
Royal Rabbit pours a pale golden color with light protein haze. It’s brighter and clearer than expected for an imperial hazy IPA, with steady streams of fine carbonation and solid lacing on the glass. While visually appealing, I would have preferred a deeper hue and fuller haze presence to match the style.

Smell – 3.75
The aroma opens with orange, pineapple, and apricot, backed by mango and a touch of green, resinous hop character. There’s a noticeable but not overpowering hint of alcohol. As it settles in the glass, the fruit character becomes more expressive and juicy.

Taste – 4.25
Flavor is where this beer shines. Fresh apricot, pineapple, and orange lead the way, followed by a subtle tartness and mild yeast character. The bitterness is restrained, leaning more toward mellow and slightly sweet than aggressively resinous. It walks a line between juicy and lightly West Coast in hop expression. It’s flavorful, smooth, and balanced — not groundbreaking, but very enjoyable.

Feel – 4.0
Medium body with a soft mouthfeel. Carbonation feels slightly under what I’d expect, but it still drinks smoothly. The 8.6% ABV is well integrated — present but not overpowering.

Overall – 4.0
Royal Rabbit is a solid imperial hazy IPA with bright fruit character, a touch of tartness, and good balance. While the appearance doesn’t fully deliver on the hazy expectations, the flavor and drinkability carry it. It’s a good beer that edges close to great, especially if fresh.

Aroma is big fruit/floral/nutty/slightly earthy hops. The flavor is citrus/fruit, a hint marshmallow fluff sweetness, malts and a big grapefruit hop finish.