Burlington It's Complicated Being a Wizard
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Tasting Notes
This beer pours with the hazy, opaque appearance typical of the style and leads with an aromatic wave of tropical fruit — think ripe mango, passionfruit, and citrus zest. On the palate it's full-bodied and almost juicy in texture, with soft bitterness that stays well in the background relative to the fruit-forward flavor. The higher ABV at 8% adds a gentle warmth that rounds out the finish without turning boozy or harsh. Hop flavor lingers through a smooth, lightly sweet close.
About the Brewery
Burlington Beer Company is based in Williston, Vermont, and has built a strong regional reputation for hazy, hop-forward ales in a state that takes its craft beer seriously. They operate a taproom-focused model and are well regarded in New England IPA circles, consistently producing beers with clean fermentation character and heavy dry-hop loads. Their lineup leans heavily into the juicy, unfiltered style that Vermont helped pioneer.
Food Pairings
Spicy Thai curry works well here because the beer's fruit-forward softness tempers heat without competing with aromatics. A double cheeseburger pairs naturally since the richness of the meat grounds the beer's fuller body. Grilled shrimp with mango salsa echoes the tropical hop character in a complementary rather than redundant way. Aged cheddar offers enough sharpness to cut through the haze and bring out the beer's underlying malt sweetness. Fish tacos with lime crema also make a practical match, letting the citrus notes in the hops do some of the seasoning work.
Style Guide
New England IPA — sometimes called hazy IPA or NEIPA — is defined by its intentionally unfiltered, opaque appearance and a flavor profile that prioritizes tropical and citrus fruit character over the sharp, resinous bitterness associated with West Coast IPAs. The style emerged from breweries in Vermont and Massachusetts in the early 2010s, with Heady Topper from The Alchemist often cited as a foundational example. A soft, pillowy mouthfeel comes from high wheat or oat content in the grain bill, and dry-hopping at multiple stages drives the aromatics. Bitterness is typically low to moderate, making the style taste rounder and less aggressive than its hop bill might suggest.