Never had a NEIPA

[Kickass]

So hazy IPA and NEIPA are the same or nearly so? If that is the case, then I think I already tried this style and was not excited.

There it is, I was waiting for it. I am a fan of a good trolling.

Maybe somebody who isn’t the OP will find value is this. All is not lost

 

[bailey mountain brewer]

However they aren't the only hazy beers, just sayin.

 

[Group W]

Be it a hazy or neipa, someone is sure to ask if your horse is sick.

 

[skunkape]

Kinda old news, but...
https://www.browardpalmbeach.com/restaurants/miamis-ten-best-ipa-beers-8797148
10, 4 and 1 are NEIPAs.
https://stacker.com/florida/highest-rated-ipas-florida

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

Whatever it is, it will have to be in a can or bottle I can find at a store.

 

[McMullan]

Murky barley-based fruit smoothie cocktails with a weird mouthfeel. Nothing like beer at all. I've tried quite a few with an open mind, but they always remind of vomiting when I was a kid, after eating too many of these. I don't have a problem with them, tbh. Other people do.

 

[Yesfan]

Whatever it is, it will have to be in a can or bottle I can find at a store.

Next time you go to the store (that sells singles), just make your own sampler of beers to try. The comparison is also part of the fun.

 

[Rish]

What's a good one to try?

Maybe you could work out a swap with one of the good folks here who have access to really tasty fresh ones for something that is good from your local breweries not widely distributed.


edit: I'd volunteer but I don't know what a good NEIPA is.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

My store has around 9,000 types of beer, but not one NEIPA in a single. I found Hazy Little Thing and some other hazy Sierra Nevada product, and I think there was one other. I grabbed the Sierra Nevada. Will see what happens.

If it's really sweet, maybe it's an opportunity to get my wife into beer.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

I tried Hazy Little Thing. Now I'm here to offend everyone who likes it and provoke hostile comments.

The package I got was dated October, 2023. I have no idea whether this is considered fresh for a hazy IPA.

The smell was wonderful and very intense, although it was more like orange juice than beer. I wondered what kind of hops gave off that aroma, because it seemed like I should use them in wheat beer. The web says it has 6 hops in it. I have no idea how you can make an intelligent choice involving 6 different hops, but I don't know everything.

The taste was also a lot like orange juice. It reminded me of the European soft drink, Orangina. It was sweet, but bearably so. Not terribly bitter.

The main problem I had with it was the aftertastes. More than one. It went down reasonably well, but then I got hit with weird stale and metallic flavors. Maybe that's from extreme dry-hopping? It just seemed off. Like they made a mistake. The aftertastes sort of killed the pleasure I got as I swallowed it. It tastes pretty good, but not fantastic, on the way in. Then you get the bill.

I could see enjoying this to a certain extent if I drank it in a hurry with a big sub or something, but it seems clumsy. Like they went so far with the weird hopping, they ruined it. I would rather have something like Torpedo with a sub. Torpedo doesn't seem to be flawed like this beer.

The wife seemed to like it better than other beers because she hates bitterness. I think the sweetness masked it for her. It is not a great testimony to a beer's quality when my wife likes it.

If I went to a friend's house, and they served this with lunch, I would drink it and be okay with it. It's much, much better than no beer at all. But I am not motivated to drink the remaining 5 cans any time soon. After I had drunk half the can, I really wanted to pour the rest out and pour myself a different beer.

Is it possible they tried to push beer farther than it can reasonably go? Is that why some people don't like this style?

I wouldn't brew something like this for myself, but I could see doing a hazy to get my wife into beer. Maybe sneak some Splenda or something into it. Maybe I could go easier on the dry-hopping to prevent those weird aftertastes.

Or maybe it was just old, and it's supposed to be better than this.

 

[T Murph]

Yeah Clint Yeastwood that pretty much mirrors how I feel about them. They just don't trip my trigger. And all I can think about when drinking one is, they made some mistakes and selling it anyway.

 

[day_trippr]

I expect most IPA fans would avoid buying 4 month old examples, bright or hazy.
So there's potentially the old/abused thing to consider.

But, beyond that, everyone I know enjoys Hazy Little Thing. It's actually one of the lightest examples of the style, hence why I called it "entry level"...

Cheers!

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

Well, most people I have known enjoyed things like Bud and Miller Lite, so there's that.

I Googled around, trying to find out what the official shelf life of this beer is. I found a secondhand reference purporting to be written by Sierra Nevada. It says 150 days. That means that if this beer was treated well, it is still considered fresh until March 21. If the reference is valid.

This beer isn't 4 months old. It's slightly under 3 months old.

I know my local NORMAL grocery stores are not always great at handling refrigerated items. I have had some refrozen ice cream. However, I got this beer at a pretentious organic place where I have not had any problems in the past, apart from disappointing baked goods and being forced to use paper bags. The other beers I've bought there seemed to be in good shape, although some were not great.

I can't see blowing another $13 to see if a second 4-pack is better. Maybe I'll come across a different brand locally.

 

[day_trippr]

I suspect the cause was lost before it started but I would try a different hazy...

Cheers!

 

[skunkape]

I tried Hazy Little Thing. Now I'm here to offend everyone who likes it and provoke hostile comments.

The wife seemed to like it better than other beers because she hates bitterness. I think the sweetness masked it for her. It is not a great testimony to a beer's quality when my wife likes it.

If I went to a friend's house, and they served this with lunch, I would drink it and be okay with it. It's much, much better than no beer at all. But I am not motivated to drink the remaining 5 cans any time soon. After I had drunk half the can, I really wanted to pour the rest out and pour myself a different beer.

Is it possible they tried to push beer farther than it can reasonably go? Is that why some people don't like this style?

I wouldn't brew something like this for myself, but I could see doing a hazy to get my wife into beer. Maybe sneak some Splenda or something into it. Maybe I could go easier on the dry-hopping to prevent those weird aftertastes.

Or maybe it was just old, and it's supposed to be better than this.

Dude… that is the most honest and entertaining beer review I have ever experienced. The wife comment nearly got me a Saison sinus rinse. I have tried a lot of Neipas in the last year - mostly on tap - and I have found a couple that were pretty good - the last one I enjoyed was by Clown Shoes I think - but nothing I would order again or brew. I’m not an American IPA fan. I brew and drink them mostly because I have friends who love them. Brit IPAs are more my style. Neipas strike me as a brewing experiment that went a bit off and everybody just tries to make the best of it by calling it a new style. Tropical, hazy and fruity are not positive characteristics in a beer for me. I speak only for myself, of course. Thanks for the laugh.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

I had to go back and read what I wrote, because I never intended to be funny. Now I guess the NEIPA fans are mad at me. I'm making a serious effort to find out what the style is all about.

I emailed Sierra Nevada to see if they had any input. I was dismayed by the requirement that I provide my phone and address, so I gave them information pertaining to the nearest Best Buy.

I think the way the hops are used must be the source of the aftertastes. Maybe there is a NEIPA out there that has more finesse. This beer makes it seems like a bunch of already-drunk frat guys were brewing, and one said, "Hey, let's empty the hop fridge into this one!"

I like IPA a lot, and I can see how I could enjoy something like this if they just toned it down and killed those off-flavors.

 

[mac_1103]

The thing about "off flavors" is that one man's (beer's?) feature can be another man's bug. I'm not a big NEIPA fan myself but I don't have anything against people who enjoy them. I also have nothing against people who hate them. De gustibus non disputandum est.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

I made garlic rolls yesterday. My wife asked for hers to be set aside before I applied the garlic and oil. Unbelievable.

 

[redrocker652002]

No hate here. I like the Hazy Little thing IPA. I don't see it as being overly bitter and enjoy the taste. I was a Racer 5 fan for a long time. I would always have that in the fridge. The last six pack I tried had a very different taste to it. So, it fell on the list. Bear Republic makes a Racer 7 that I enjoy as well. It is also a hazy IPA. A small brewery in Oregon, Wild Ride, made a hazy pale ale that I really liked as well. So, to me, if you like it drink it. If you don't give it to me. LOL. I will take those 5 cans off your hands. LOL

 

[T Murph]

Beers like most things have a wide range of appeal, some appeal to the masses while others appeal to a much smaller audience. I simply don't care for the hazies. I also don't care for wheat beers. Doesn't mean I can't appreciate a well made beer of either category. I'm simply not going out to purchase beers I don't care for to have stocked in my bar. With that said I have already compiled my brew list for 2024 and I a scheduled to brew a wit beer in May. I am part of a huge family who annually enjoys a big family reunion week in June. We have a few, mostly females, who request wheat beer at our gatherings. Therefore we will make one this year and if there is any left over I'll save it for next year, lol.

 

[skunkape]

I had to go back and read what I wrote, because I never intended to be funny. Now I guess the NEIPA fans are mad at me. I'm making a serious effort to find out what the style is all about.

Understood. It was definitely well thought out and provided solid background for your deductions. Carefully stated. To the point. Not snarky. I referred to it as a review because it was one. And a good one. The part where your wife liking it was not necessarily a good thing is what cracked me up. I can relate.

 

[wdavis2003]

You are better off finding one at a local brewery to try then to buy one off the shelf at a store. Hazy's from Sierra Nevada and New Belgium are readily accessible but IMO.. not very good.

If you do buy them off the shelf, don't buy one older then 8 weeks in the can. You might as well be throwing your money down the drain. Sometimes you can stretch it 10 weeks if you're craving one and nothing else is available.

You should have a store nearby that sells local craft beer. You'll find one there. If you go to a big liquor store chain you are going to get the macro options.

 

[camonick]

A good NEIPA/ Hazy can be a very tasty, but I’ve had a lot that fall short, very short. I don’t know that 6 hops are necessary for the style. Citra and Mosaic are well known work horses for the style. I prefer NEIPA’s over standard IPA’s because I prefer the juicier, smoother flavors as opposed to the punch you in the face bitterness of the standard variety. It’s also one of the most difficult styles to deliver a satisfactory product. Freshness is mandatory, like others have stated, for maximum enjoyment. You’ll know immediately when you get a good one. Like many styles, they just might not be for everyone.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

Sierra Nevada responded to my question. The response was quick, considerate, generous, and a little weird.

Basically, they said two things that didn't seem to jibe. First, they confirmed that the beer was too old. Second, they said it was past the 150-day mark. The beer was packaged 91 days ago.

I am quite sure they package their ales as soon as they're ready to drink. Surely the 150-day period is counted from the packing date.

They are sending me a check of some kind, good for a 12-pack. That's really nice of them. Great customer relations. I was perfectly happy to find ways to use the beer and then continue buying other Sierra Nevada products. I took a chance when I bought it, so I figured that was on me, not them. I flat-out told them it looked like they were making a mistake, but I gave them my address because I have a feeling they'll mail the check anyway.

My plan is to try to use the check to get the other Sierra Nevada hazy I found locally. I hope I like it, because I plan to review it.

Sierra Nevada makes a lot of great beer. The fact that one guy was not overly excited about one ale doesn't mean anything.

 

[day_trippr]

They have at least four "hazy" beers in their repertoire. I like Hazy Little Thing, was not wild about Tropical Little Thing, and haven't had either Juicy Little Thing, or Dank Little Thing, which is new.

Lots of options, that's for sure...

Cheers!

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

I think I saw Juicy Little Thing in the store. Wonder what the date was.

 

[redrocker652002]

A good NEIPA/ Hazy can be a very tasty, but I’ve had a lot that fall short, very short. I don’t know that 6 hops are necessary for the style. Citra and Mosaic are well known work horses for the style. I prefer NEIPA’s over standard IPA’s because I prefer the juicier, smoother flavors as opposed to the punch you in the face bitterness of the standard variety. It’s also one of the most difficult styles to deliver a satisfactory product. Freshness is mandatory, like others have stated, for maximum enjoyment. You’ll know immediately when you get a good one. Like many styles, they just might not be for everyone.

Good post, and I agree with it.

 

[redrocker652002]

They have at least four "hazy" beers in their repertoire. I like Hazy Little Thing, was not wild about Tropical Little Thing, and haven't had either Juicy Little Thing, or Dank Little Thing, which is new.

Lots of options, that's for sure...

Cheers!

I have been meaning to try the Juicy one, but have not yet. The dank one I don't think I will try. I had a dank IPA from another brewer, I think it was Stone, and I really did not like it. If you try the juicy one please post, it is on my list to try.

 

[redrocker652002]

Sierra Nevada responded to my question. The response was quick, considerate, generous, and a little weird.

Basically, they said two things that didn't seem to jibe. First, they confirmed that the beer was too old. Second, they said it was past the 150-day mark. The beer was packaged 91 days ago.

I am quite sure they package their ales as soon as they're ready to drink. Surely the 150-day period is counted from the packing date.

They are sending me a check of some kind, good for a 12-pack. That's really nice of them. Great customer relations. I was perfectly happy to find ways to use the beer and then continue buying other Sierra Nevada products. I took a chance when I bought it, so I figured that was on me, not them. I flat-out told them it looked like they were making a mistake, but I gave them my address because I have a feeling they'll mail the check anyway.

My plan is to try to use the check to get the other Sierra Nevada hazy I found locally. I hope I like it, because I plan to review it.

Sierra Nevada makes a lot of great beer. The fact that one guy was not overly excited about one ale doesn't mean anything.

I think at one point I emailed them to see if I could get the recipe for the Hazy little thing. If I remember correctly, they sent me the ingredient list and a somewhat mash schedule and temps. It was a bit vague, but they did say that it really depended on my system and the list should get me the info I need to taylor it to my setup. I remember thinking that it was a good email from the company and it gave me what I needed but did not give up any proprietary info like yeast strains.

Good to hear the company is taking care of you, that goes a long way in my book.

 

[Alan Reginato]

The smell was wonderful and very intense, although it was more like orange juice than beer. I wondered what kind of hops gave off that aroma, because it seemed like I should use them in wheat beer. The web says it has 6 hops in it. I have no idea how you can make an intelligent choice involving 6 different hops, but I don't know everything.

The taste was also a lot like orange juice. It reminded me of the European soft drink, Orangina. It was sweet, but bearably so. Not terribly bitter.

The main problem I had with it was the aftertastes. More than one. It went down reasonably well, but then I got hit with weird stale and metallic flavors. Maybe that's from extreme dry-hopping? It just seemed off. Like they made a mistake. The aftertastes sort of killed the pleasure I got as I swallowed it. It tastes pretty good, but not fantastic, on the way in. Then you get the bill.

Nearly all of your description matches perfectly within the style. Intense and wonderful fruit aroma. Citrus/fruit taste, more akin a juice than beer. Sweet upfront and bitter aftertaste.
One man's trash is another man's treasure.

I don't like it too. IMHO, looks like someone throw concentrated juice and caramel in a bitter beer. Completely off balance.

The metallic aftertaste probably is due to high dry hopping rates. Too much myrcene had been described as metallic. They probably are using some kind of extract, because if was only regular pellets, you should had taste a grassy bite as well. That's a common side effect of extreme dry hopping. Expect that in almost any beer of this kind. Few rare exceptions have been described, but I don't have access to them down here.

Don't forget to make reviews about yours next adventures!