Eagle Bay’s Hop Punch Hazy is the first beer in what will become the southwest brewer's new and ongoing IPA series, which will see them keeping things fresh by rotating through different experimental releases. And it's a promising release to start the new program: balanced and, as the name suggests, punchy with bright aromatics and flavours like citrus and sweet pine. It comes dip-hopped with Vic Secret and dry-hopped with Strata and Talus, as well as some Citra in Spectrum liquid hop extract form.
All of this comes together to yield a full blown assault of citrus and tropical-leaning hop character where structure is also noteworthy. Bitterness is present and well-placed but certainly not overbearing, while the finish is moderate with a touch of sweetness, steering well clear of the tendency for extra residual sweetness in many modern hazies.
Hop Punch Hazy isn’t necessarily new territory for the Eagle Bay brewers, but the concept of replacing a core range IPA with a seasonal, rotating IPA offering that will inevitably reflect consumer tastes and preferences is a welcome, contemporary update.
Jono Outred
Published July 8, 2022 2022-07-08 00:00:00
