A Bottle of Suds

Crazy…for Hazy

BY TOM FIRTH PHOTOS BY JASON DZIVER

It’s nigh impossible to find a craft brewery that isn’t making an India Pale Ale and while it’s possible to find a wide range of big and brassy examples, sometimes, it’s the subtle examples that call out to you. The waters got even murkier a few years ago with the advent of the Hazy or New England IPAs, and then with West Coast, Juicy, Doubles and Triples, and still even more sub categories showing up in taprooms and store shelves. If you like your India Pale Ales, there is sure to be something made locally to wet that whistle.

Revival Brewcade Mana Beast West Coast IPA, Alberta

As a child of the 8-bit era, I love the callbacks to when the quarter was king, and love having a fine brew too, while fondly recalling those days. Mana Beast is a West Coast IPA but with a smokey, almost oily/caramel hue to the resinous hop presence. Weighing in with 7 percent ABV, it might be a bit… beastly for a session ale, but after a long night plugging quarters… CSPC +823701 4x473 mL $18-19

Cabin Sunshine Rain IPA, Alberta

Cabin’s West Coast IPA has a deep, resinous aroma and a mild, almost honey-like sensual note. This is a big, chewy glass of IPA compared to many, but manages a fine sense of balance too – if you like plenty of hops. Drinking this, I’m recalling violent thundershowers on hot August evenings. Rain pelting down, hot sidewalks, and ozone in the air. CSPC +812918 4x473 mL $17-19

Banded Peak Microburst Hazy IPA Alberta

As the name implies, microburst is a little intense. Hop driven, tropical fruit laden, and with a rich mango character akin to mango ice cream, and lots of floral and citrus flavours. It’s a stronger beer at more than 6 percent alcohol, but this East Coast has some serious refreshing powers. CSPC +841941 4x473 mL $18-20

Village Nomad India Pale Ale, Alberta

Another hazy IPA, but aside from the clarity of the beer, it’s a much more classic style of IPA with bright hop aromas, a mild, resinous pine character, loads of citrus tones, and the right amount of bitterness to support it all. This is exactly the sort of beer that works its finest magic on a hot summer day, close to the mountains, and after a long day enjoying some of our natural wonders. Drink up! CSPC +825617 4x473 mL $16-18

OT Brewing 5 Hundie Hazy IPA Alberta

Very pale, floral, and super tropical, from fresh vanilla to peaches and juicy pineapple on the nose and on the palate. Almost creamy on the palate too but where it really shines is in having a fairly mild bitterness that doesn’t take away from the all the fruit. A bit of a crushable, hazy IPA – and that is not a bad thing. CSPC +820771 4x473 mL $16-18

Trolley 5 Juicy 5.0, Alberta

A juicy IPA that might be getting a little hard to find as summer becomes a distant memory, but this strong beer, with 7 percent ABV knocking on the door, shows off pineapple and peachiness with a mild pine undercurrent (mild… for IPA) and a wickedly rich and balanced palate. The alcohol, the hops, and all that flavour make for a fine glass while chilling out with some tunes. CSPC +854771 4x473 mL $16-18

Serves 6