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3 Comments

  1. Maria
    May 24, 2019 @ 4:41 am

    Ranger is the epithome of acrid nasty ipa. One of the worst beers in history, vile, tastes like poison. Way overhopped, new belgium is way overrated. If you are stuck on new belgium try Abbey.

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  2. Robert Whisler
    May 23, 2019 @ 10:37 pm

    I don’t understand your negative comments refering to VR Juicy Hazy IPA. For its price range it kills it in the style. In Chicago (and you know Chicago breweries are dominating in craft beer quality) we are powerhouses in the NEIPA style. More, Noon Whistle, Marz, Alarmist, Maplewood…I could go on and on….Although the VR JHIpa isnt at that level, it’s a quality representation on the style for its price range…
    So let’s compare similar price points:
    Bells Hazy – weak not really a NEIPA
    Sierra Nevada Hazy – same not really a NEIPA.
    Deschutes Hazy – pretty good for the price point.
    Firestone Walker – terrible, not even hazy.
    Osker Blues CanOBliss Hazy Ipa – pretty good.
    Of the mid level NE….Juicy Hazy is the best of the group.
    Tell me why I’m wrong…….

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    • GT Wharton
      May 24, 2019 @ 1:16 am

      Thanks for the comment. I think this has to do with a couple of things. First, real hazy IPA was never meant to be distributed cross country. It’s an on-tap, at-the-brewery specialty like in Germany you have zoiglbier and kolsch that absolutely cannot tolerate packaging and distribution. Like you said, your favorite are locals in your region.

      Second, it is very possible that I’m being unfair to Juicy Haze IPA. It continues to be in stores and people seem to be buying it. I don’t really compare beers based on price, so I yield to you on best bang for your buck. I agree that the Bell’s Official Hazy IPA was a big flop. And I think we agree that SN Hazy Little Thing isn’t a hazy IPA but it is good. I think where we disagree may be down to regional distribution. For instance, you liked New Belgium Juicy IPA (I did not) and I like the Firestone Walker Mind Haze (you did not). Perhaps if we both had fresher examples that didn’t sit in a truck, we may like both of them.

      I have not re-tried Juicy Haze IPA, so concede that I may have been unfair. I think I spelled out clearly why I didn’t like it though. It was estery and yeasty, which I’ve never experienced with a hazy IPA before, and it was the worst kind of chalky like eating cement mix. So, I was pretty confident in my assessment that it needed improvement. But like I said, it could be due to shipping conditions, freshness, etc.

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