It might feel like it has always been around, but the New England-style IPA has only been in existence since 2004. This was when famed brewer John Kimmich launched the now iconic Heady Topper IPA at The Alchemist Brewery in Waterbury, Vermont. Little did he know that when he didn’t filter or pasteurize his IPA, he’d be creating a hazy, cloudy, juicy phenomenon. His 8 percent ABV hazy, juicy, tropical fruit-filled IPA, brewed with six different hops and a rare yeast, is still the standard that many New England-style IPA brewers strive for.
Now that you know a little bit about the history of the New England-style IPA, it’s time to learn a little bit about the flavor. This is the real reason for the massive appeal of this beer that’s only been in existence for less than two decades. That’s a tiny blip when you compare it to the overall history of brewing.
New England-style IPAs are known for the high hop aromas and low bitterness thanks in large part to dry-hopping. They’re unfiltered, hazy, and often creamy due to some brewers including oats or flaked barley in the recipe. Overall, regardless of the specific recipe, most New England-style IPAs are closer in mouthfeel and flavor to a glass of freshly squeezed Florida orange juice than a crisp, traditional lager. Other flavors include ripe peach, guava, mango, tangerine, grapefruit, and even passion fruit.
It should now be clear to you that sipping on a New England-style IPA is the equivalent of taking a tropical vacation in a pint glass. While the weather might be getting better in most of the Northern Hemisphere as we head full force into spring, it’s not summer just yet. We all definitely still need a little sip of tropical paradise.
Hopefully, by now we’ve wet your proverbial appetite for this hazy, juicy beer. Lucky for you, we’ve found ten great examples that you’ll want to stock your fridge with this spring, summer, and beyond. Keep scrolling to see them all.
Firestone Walker Mind Haze IPA
Firestone Walker is one of those breweries where you can be pretty sure you’ll be happy regardless of which bottle or can you crack open. While they’ve gained acclaim for their barrel-aged beers, the IPA is still where the California-based brewery shines.
One of its best is its Mind Haze IPA, a New England-style IPA brewed with 2-row and Munich malt as well as wheat, torrified wheat, blonde roastOat, and oats. It gets its juicy, tropical fruit-forward flavor from Mandarina and Cascade hops in the kettle and dry-hopping with Azacca, El Dorado, Mosaic, Chinook, Cashmere, Callista, and Idaho 7 hops.
- Origin: California
- ABV: 6.2%
- Price Range: $10.99-12.99 for a six-pack
Offshoot Relax (It’s Just a Hazy IPA)
There are few New England-style IPAs more aptly named than Relax. This is because that’s exactly what you’ll do when you crack open one of these Citra, Amarillo, Centennial, and Simcoe hop-centric beers featuring juicy, sweet tropical fruit flavors and bright, tart citrus flavors.
The addition of 2-Row malt, flaked oats, Carafoam, and London III yeast give it a smooth, cream, easy-drinking flavor profile. Like any well-made, balanced hazy IPA, there’s a ton of hop aroma and flavor with little to no bitterness.
- Origin: California
- ABV: 6.8%
- Price Range: $14.99-15.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans
Night Shift Fluffy IPA
Fluffy IPA is Night Shift’s flagship hazy IPA. Brewed with cryo hops, all mostly added after the kettle boil (95 percent). The result is a hazy, juicy, cloudy beer bursting with mango, tangerine, apricot, and other tropical fruit flavors. The addition of most of the hops after the boil adds a ridiculous amount of hop aroma and flavor without any bitterness. It’s as close to a glass of fresh-squeezed tropical fruit juice as a beer can get.
- Origin: Massachusetts
- ABV: 7%
- Price Range: $15.99-16.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans
Old Nation M-43 IPA
What Old Nation M-43 lacks in the exciting name department, it makes up for in bold aromas and flavors. The first release from the brewery’s “New Orthodox” series, M-43 is brewed with Amarillo, Calypso, Simcoe, and Citra hops. It’s known for its flavors of mango, grapefruit, mandarin oranges, pineapple, and guava.
It gets its hazy, cream mouthfeel from the addition of malted oats and the oils from hops themselves. It’s one of the most well-balanced, exciting New England-style IPAs on the market and one that you definitely shouldn’t miss.
- Origin: Michigan
- ABV: 6.8%
- Price Range: $13.99-14.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans
Bissell Brothers Swish IPA
Brewed with Golden Promise malt, Maine wheat, Simcoe, Mosaic, and Citra hops, this hazy, juicy double IPA is sought-after by New England-style IPA fans. Available from October through April, it’s known for its nose of citrus peels and bright tropical fruits.
The palate is loaded with honeydew melons, ripe berries, tangerines, caramelized pineapple, mango, and ripe peach. All with a sweet, dry, refreshing finish that leaves you wanting more
- Origin: Maine
- ABV: 8%
- Price Range: $17.99-18.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans
Fiddlehead IPA
If you’re making a list of must-try New England-style IPAs, you must add at least one from the state (Vermont) that brought us this popular beer style. Sure, we could have mentioned Heady Topper here, but there’s a good chance you’ve already tried it. Instead, we’re including Fiddlehead IPA.
This well-balanced, hazy, juicy beer is loaded with citrus and tropical fruit flavors and finishes dry, sweet, with very little bitterness. It’s a memorable beer that deserves a spot in your fridge.
- Origin: Vermont
- ABV: 6.2%
- Price Range: $13.99-14.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans
Deschutes Fresh Haze IPA
This year-round, hazy, juicy offering from Oregon’s Deschutes is brewed with 2-row and Crystal malts, wheat, and flaked oats. It gets its citrus and tropical fruit aroma and flavor from the addition of Cashmere, Mandarina Bavaria, Bravo, and Amarillo hops. While some hazy IPAs lean into the juicy, fruity aspect and don’t pay much attention to the other flavors, this one has a great malty backbone that helps the other flavors shine.
- Origin: Oregon
- ABV: 6.5%
- Price Range: $9.99-11.99 for a six-pack
Toppling Goliath King Sue IPA
Sometimes, brewers add to the aromas and flavors of New England-style IPAs by adding a massive number of various hops during the kettle boil and with dry-hopping after. Toppling Goliath opts to create its bright, vibrant citrus flavor by only using Citra hops.
The result is a hazy beer with notes of tangerine, grapefruit, pineapple, mango, and peach. The can is adorned with a roaring T-rex and the lightly bitter bite at the finish makes us see why.
- Origin: Iowa
- ABV: 7.8%
- Price Range: $17.99-19.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans
Collective Arts Life in the Clouds IPA
The folks at Collective Arts have crafted one of the best New England-style IPAs by utilizing the aroma and flavor of Simcoe and Mosaic hops. This results in a fruity, juicy symphony of flavor featuring notes of honeydew melon, mango, and tangerine on the nose. It draws you in and the palate surrounds your taste buds with flavors of pineapple, mango, citrus zest, and lightly floral, herbal hops.
- Origin: Canada
- ABV: 6.1%
- Price Range: $14.99-15.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans
Karl Strauss Boat Shoes IPA
When the summer begins, and a flip-flop isn’t appropriate, you’ll find us wearing boat shoes whenever possible. We’d rather not wear socks and boat shoes to enable us to do so. That’s why we were so stoked when we saw that the brewers at California’s Karl Strauss made a New England-style IPA to pay homage to the perfect warm-weather footwear.
Brewed with Pale 2-row malt, white wheat, and rolled oats, it gets its citrus and tropical fruit flavors from the liberal use of Crystal, Simcoe, Galaxy, Citra, and Mosaic hops.
- Origin: Calfornia
- ABV: 7.2%
- Price Range: $14.99-16.99 for a six-pack
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