Foothills beer for $5.98 a six-pack at Target? Boy did that get my attention! Technically, the sticker price was $6.29, but with my 5% Red Card savings the price came down as described. I haven’t seen craft beer that inexpensive in ages, so of course I grabbed some. The selection was the new Hop Job Session IPA, the magnificent People’s Porter, and a beer I’ve never tried before, Foothills Jade IPA.
Foothills has two IPAs in their lineup that I am aware of, Jade IPA and Hoppyum IPA. They also do a sort of “IPA of the month”, too. Hoppyum is more of a classic American IPA with resiny piney notes while Jade is of the thinner malty fruit loopy tropical fruit hop variety.
From the label:
Jade. Exotic jewel of the orient. Now a gem of an IPA. Bold, citrusy Pacific Jade hops lend striking tropical fruit notes and a hint of peppery finish to this easy-drinking IPA. Dry hop additions of Chinook and Citra add heady aroma and bold flavor. A special beer to charm the hop lover in you. Go ahead. Get Jaded.
Foothills Jade IPA has an alcohol content of 7.4% by volume with 86 IBUs. I already told you what I paid for it.
Foothills Jade IPA pours to a bright orange color with a thick creamy head formation and a tropical fruity pineapple and passion fruit nose. Taking a sip, the beer has a moderate maltiness up front followed by more of the passion fruit and pineapple tropical fruitiness with a hint of citrus peel thrown in for good measure. The finish is dry grassy and bitter. Yeah, this is a thin malty fruit loopy IPA, but that’s what they’re going for and this is well executed.
I enjoyed Foothills Jade IPA and may go back for more. I don’t always expect to get it for a buck a bottle, but it’s nice to do so while I can. I’d pay more for it for sure. But right now, I don’t have to…
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
(G)=Growler