Hazy Jane By BrewDog

New England IPAs are one the hottest craft beer trends and I don’t see that changing soon. And with any trend, everyone wants to capitalize but can a larger brewery make this style? Let’s take a look at Hazy Jane by BrewDog and see how their widely distributed New England IPA stacks up to my expectations.

Not familiar with the New England IPA? Check out these articles to learn more:

• The Haze Craze
• New England IPA: A Style Of It’s Own?

My Review Of Hazy Jane

I am a huge fan of the New England IPA. They often make my list of The Best Craft Beer that I drink each month.

So it only makes sense that I would have interest in checking out Hazy Jane and comparing it to the other beers in this style that I’ve had.

Hazy Jane has an ABV of 7.2% and IBUs of 30. You’ll find it in 6 packs of 12oz cans for around $10. That’s a solid price point for this style of craft beer.

Here is how BrewDog describes their brew:

Hazy Jane is a Vermont style IPA, with low background bitterness, loaded with intense juicy fruit character. Pineapple, stonefruit, mango, light resin and hints of lime peel – this juicy IPA is full-bodied and smooth, enhancing the soft ripe fruit flavours.

You may notice that they describe this beer as a Vermont style IPA. The New England IPA is still developing and there are lots of different names for it. Some call it a Northeast IPA as well.

All of these names mean the same thing which is an IPA that is fruit forward in aroma and taste. Many describe them as having juicy qualities. It has a full but soft mouthfeel and lacks bitterness. And in most cases, it has a hazy appearance.

Initial Thoughts

Any time there is a trend, I worry that everyone will jump on board. But this doesn’t mean the beer will be good; it just means they want to capitalize on the trend.

In addition, New England IPAs can have a short shelf life making it tricky to distribute.

Could a larger brewery produce and distribute a great New England IPA?

Upon opening it, I picked up the strong tropical fruit flavors that this style should have. There are hints of pineapple and what I would call over-ripe mango. As well as a touch of something that was nearly lemon-like.

The color was a rich yellow-orange and is opaque. It’s not as “juice-like” as some but definitely has a solid hazy appearance. The white head dissipated rather quickly.

Tasting Notes

I poured it directly out of the refrigerator so it was still very cold. I think this added to the appealing flavor it had. While some beers are better closer to room temperature, most New England IPAs seem to be best cold.

As the can will tell you, there is ample amounts of pineapple and mango in the flavor. It has a juice like sweetness to it as well. For many, the sweetness can be a little strong in this style. Hazy Jane has a prominent sweet side to it.

The finish is mouth-watering and smooth. Per the style, there was nearly no bitterness to it. Again, for those that typically do not like IPAs, this makes Hazy Jane a great option.

Final Thoughts

BrewDog nailed it with Hazy Jane. This is exactly what I have come to expect from a New England IPA.

From appearance to aroma to flavor, Hazy Jane is everything it should be.

It’s not easy to get your hands on New England IPAs. Most breweries sell them out of their taproom and you’ll need to line up to ensure you get some. So the fact that BrewDog is distributing this one and you can just pick up a six pack makes this an instant winner for me.

Related Post: Learn More About The New England IPA

Conculsion

I see no reason why the demand for New England IPAs will fade. But supply will increase as more and more breweries brew them.

But that’s a good thing as most people have been waiting in lines or trading to get this style of beer over the past few years. Most of you aren’t going to spend a good portion of your weekend hunting for beer.

More breweries will release this style of craft beer as time moves forward. It continues to grow in popularity and I look forward to the next time I get to drink Hazy Jane.

Have You Tried Hazy Jane? Do You Think It’s As Good As Other New England IPAs?