Citradelic Tangerine IPA! Isn’t that an awesome thing. It seems IPAs are being made with all kinds of things these days, from grapefruits to oranges to pineapples to chili peppers. I say that’s just fantastic, though some beer geeks don’t seem to agree. They might wonder why you don’t just drink a glass of orange or grapefruit or tangerine juice, but they miss the point. The beauty, you see, is in the interplay between fruit and hop and malt.
That’s what I like so much about Citradelic Tangerine IPA, the way that all the ingredients work together to deliver a delicious and refreshing drinking experience. For my part, I love the juicy, tart and sweet bite of tangerines, so adding them to a hoppy beer seems a no-brainer.
Here’s what New Belgium says about Citradelic on their website:
Tune in and hop out with New Belgium Citradelic. Set adrift on a kaleidoscopic wave of hoppiness brought to you by a mystical marriage of Citra hops and tangerine peel, which elevates each sip onto a plane of pure tropical, fruity pleasure. Citradelic’s namesake hop and fruit combine to jam with visions of additional hops like citrusy Mandarina Bavaria, tropical Azzaca, and fruity Galaxy for a colorful explosion that’s grounded by just a touch of malty sweetness. Bored by the status quo? Expand your palate with a pour of Citradelic.
Ingredients from the website:
Hops: Nugget, Crystal, Centennial, Azzaca, Cascade, Citra, Chinook, Galaxy, Mandarina Bavaria, Simcoe
Malts: Pale, Caramel 120
Fruits/Spices: Tangerine infused orange peel
New Belgium Citradelic Tangerine IPA, new for 2016, has an alcohol content of 6% by volume with 50 IBUs. I paid $5.50 for my 20-ounce draft mug at Taco Mac; it runs $8.99 a six-pack bottled here.
My mug of New Belgium Citradelic Tangerine IPA arrived a bright orange color with a thick fluffy head with bright citrus rind peel in the nose. Taking a sip, that citrus rind is even more apparent with bold notes of tangy tangerine fruit, light pine and pineapple fruit, crisp light caramel malt, orange jello and a long dry herbal hop and rind bitterness at the last.
I found New Belgium Light refreshing flavorful full of citric tangerine flavor and spicy hops. The hops are quite complex in their diversity and really make this beer pop, it doesn’t rely solely on the citrus fruit for its appeal. It’s a great beer for spring and one I’ll be happy to enjoy again.
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