Dogfish Head is Beer of the Month! At least, it is at Taco Mac locations in Georgia. I got there right at 5PM (maybe a few minutes before even) for the very first glass night on Thursday, June 3^rd. That meant I got a really cool Dogfish head beer glass with my purchase of Dogfish Head Hazy O Hazy IPA, which was a beer I ha dnot tried before, though now I am sure glad that I did.

I’m not going to say this is not your average hazy New England-style IPA, because in many ways it is. There is a difference, though, and a remarkable one at that. That’s the oats (the “O” in Hazy O stands for oats after all). Oats, of course, are nothing new in beer; oatmeal stout anyone? Oats were adding a smooth creaminess to beer long before they were used for New England IPAs. That said, no one has quite accented them as much in a hazy IPA as much as Dogfish has here. At least not in my experience. I’ll let Dogfish explain this to you.

Helloooooo Hazy-O! Our latest off-centered innovation is now available coast-to-coast!

Brewed with truckloads of oats and wheat for a full body, Hazy-O! is then liberally dry-hopped to deliver juicy tropical notes of citrus, mango and pineapple! But the real star is our secret ingredient ... oats! This Hazy IPA uses four (yes, four!) types of oats. And you might be thinking, "why so many oats?" Each does something a little different for your sipping experience...

Malted oats contribute a dreamy cloudiness.

Rolled oats create a silky mouthfeel.

Naked oats give a nice toasted and nutty flavor.

And oat milk, oh the oat milk! The pièce de ré·sis·tance of this glorious IPA provides an amplified haze and mouthfeel.

The oats really do come through here and add body and creaminess to the beer. After that, it’s really just your normal juicy hazy IPA experience. Dogfish Head Hazy O Hazy IPA has an alcohol content of 7.1% by volume with 45 IBUS. I paid $6.80 for a 23-ounce mug at Taco Mac, and Total Wine sells it for $9.99 a six-pack in cans.

My mug of Dogfish Head Hazy O Hazy IPA arrived a hazy orange amber color with a thick fluffy white head and a citrusy orange and grapefruit nose. Taking a sip, the beer is medium bodied but a bit more than par for the course for the style, as the smooth pasty oats add some depth here. I get more of the juicy oarange-grapefruit citrus the nose promised plus lemon rind, pineapple, and a moderately bitter finish.

For me, the oats are the star here and their smooth silky character sets this beer apart from the pack. It is well worth trying, and the next time you get a chance, I sincerely hope you will.

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, Canned

(D)=Draft