Beer Styles

What is a Hazy IPA? It's a cloudy, unfiltered India Pale Ale that tastes more like fruit juice than bitterness. The style is also called New England IPA, or NEIPA for short, and originated in New England. Vermont is considered one of its birthplaces, and the Alchemist from Waterbury defined it with Heady Topper. Today, Hill Farmstead from Greensboro Bend also brews similar beers there, and Lawson's from Waitsfield sets another benchmark with Sip of Sunshine.

What does the beer look like? The color ranges from pale yellow to orange, and the haze often makes it look like juice. The head is dense, the aroma recalls orange, mango, and pineapple, and the mouthfeel is soft, almost creamy. Bitterness is present, but it takes a back seat to the aroma.

The difference from the classic American West Coast IPA is stark. The West Coast IPA is clear, more bitter, and drier, with resinous, pine-like notes. The Vermont beer trades sharpness for juiciness. Style guidelines allow 40 to 70 IBU for the West Coast type, compared to 25 to 60 for a Hazy IPA.

Heady Topper itself is a Double IPA, a stronger variant with more malt and more hops. It sits at around 8% ABV. The brewery calls the beer a Double IPA; whether it counts as part of the hazy style depends on how strictly you define the haze. The ranges below come from style guidelines, not from any single brand.