Creatures of Magic by Burlington Beer Company (Burlington, VT) - Hazy IPA
Many IPAs tend to have different waves of flavors (fruit, piney etc.) within one swallow but here interestingly all these flavors, orange, lemon zest, grass, pines, bread and malts are combined from start to finish yet distinguishable. And very soft mouthfeel due to the high level of oats.
Throw me the Idol by Brick & Feather Brewery (Turner Falls, MA) - Hazy DIPA
Lots of orange juice with some berry flavors and some slightly bitter lemon zest. Followed by some some malts and a long lasting medium bitter, dry finish with a bit warm alcohol flavor. Good but also a bit unremarkable DIPA.
Blackberry Sournova by Almanac (Alameda, CA) - Fruited sour
Almanac has the balance between the tartness of the sour and the sweetness of the fruits quite nicely dialed in their Sournova series. Blackberry is a nice addition and works very well with the sour. The vanilla could be a bit more pronounced as it is hardly recognizable.
I enjoy their fruit sours very much.
King Sue by Toppling Goliath Brewing Company (Decorah, IA) - Hazy IPA
Hazy IPAs sometimes tend to be quite smooth, balanced, not overly bitter whereas King Sue has a lot of bite. Orange juice with grapefruit upfront but immediately followed by a huge mixture of pine, grassy, floral, nearly herbal notes. Big, long lasting bitter finish. Nice IPA that bites back
Shush by Frost Beer Works (Hinesburg, VT) - Hazy IPA
Unusual hazy IPA with a very short orange juice finish which immediately changes to a very malt heavy, biscuit like flavor which reminds on some lagers. Very high carbonation which doesn’t fit this style. Very dry, medium bitter finish. Overall rather disappointing IPA.
Nor’Easter Hazy Hazy by Black Hog Brewing Company (Oxford, CT) - Hazy IPA
Juicy start with orange and melon but not overly pronounced and sweet, followed by some malts and a lot of dank which lingers for quite some time. Interesting dry finish with medium bitterness but at the very end a slight hint of tropical sweetness.
Rhubarbra Strawsand by Laughing Monk Brewing (San Francisco, CA) - Fruited Sour
Subtle yet clearly recognizable strawberry and rhubarb flavors which give a nice mix of sweet/fruity and tart which is well balanced with the sour. Very nice and refreshing fruited sour.
Watershed by Vanished Valley Brewing Company (Ludlow, MA) - IPA
Drinks like a mix of east and west coast IPA with relatively little juiciness but a peppery lemon flavor upfront with some hints of grape juice. Followed by quite a lot of bitterness with some malt flavors. Long lasting bitter finish.
NvU vs The Haze by Pipeworks Brewing Company (Chicago, IL) - Hazy DIPA
Starts with a mix of juicy orange, grapefruit and lemon zest but gets fast taken over by aromatic hops with notes of spices, floral, pines and some dank before a dry, medium bitter but long lingering finish with a faint reoccurrence of some juiciness.
Forever and Tomorrow by Seven Saws Brewing (Holden, MA) - Hazy DIPA
Bold orange and melon flavors upfront with some hoppy bite which includes herbal/spicy notes. Quite low bitterness in the finish . Overall relatively smooth, fruity DIPA with a nearly creamy mouthfeel.
18 Decillion by Equilibrium Brewery (Middletown, NY) - Hazy DIPA
Very tropical flavors with mango, papaya and pineapple, some slight funk later, before a dry, medium bitter finish. Very well rounded DIPA but the “funk” in the middle doesn’t really fit into the profile and distracts from the otherwise good balance.
Juicer by Harpoon Brewery (Boston, MA) - Hazy DIPA
Surprisingly subdued juiciness based on the name. Some orange flavor but gets immediately taken over by bready malts and grassy notes. Quite high and long lasting bitterness in the finish with a slight alcohol taste in the background. Overall one of the weaker hazy IPAs.
Wavetable by Grimm Artisanal Ales (Brooklyn, NY) - NEIPA
Very little juiciness beside some hints of mango and orange. Otherwise a lot of piney, resiny flavors with an “herbal” bite. Quite dry, bitter finish. It tastes more of a west coast style IPA than the “promised” NEIPA.
Blue Comet by Widowmaker Brewing (Braintree, MA) - Hazy IPA
Rather typical hazy IPA with upfront juiciness (lime, peach), followed by some grassy, herbal resins. Dry, relatively low bitterness finish. Very drinkable IPA which doesn’t go into extremes but is more of a middle-of-the-road approach.
Dam Good Decade Terps by Belching Beaver Brewery (Oceanside, CA) - IPA
Adding terpenes is a newer trend for IPAs and sometimes it adds too much “artificial” fruit flavors but this IPA is an excellent example how to work with terpenes - great tropical/floral flavors throughout without being too sweet. Some mild grassy, piney addition and a low bitterness finish. Very smooth, great IPA.
Despite all Odds by Marlowe Artisanal Ales (Nyack, NY) - DIPA
Different notes of citrus (grapefruit, lemon, lime) with very slight hints of mango in the background but followed by a strong flavor of piney resins and some caramel malts. Dry and quite bitter, long lasting finish with a slight alcohol burn in the back. Overall feels a bit one note as an IPA.
Six Years Time by Lamplighter Brewing Company (Cambridge, MA) - IPA
A little bit of orange juice upfront but otherwise a lot of piney dank throughout the sip. Some malts in the background and a dry, long lasting medium bitter finish - Overall quite one dimensional IPA.
Bounce per Ounce by Grimm Artisanal Ales (Brooklyn, NY) - DIPA
Interesting combination of berry/strawberry and orange flavors upfront which gets followed by a lot of hoppy, grassy tastes with a little bit of pines and a dry, relatively low bitterness finish. Good, but not great DIPA.
Celebration Fresh Hop IPA by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company (Chico, CA) - IPA
Very dry IPA - hints of grapefruit pith upfront but immediately taken over by loads of pine, intense malts, a bit of floral notes and really dry, very long lasting, bitter finish with a reoccurring grapefruit pith flavor. Quite resiny, dry IPA with lots of bitter hops
