Cellarmaker Simcoe Galaxy

Tasting Notes

The aroma leads with ripe tropical fruit — mango, passionfruit, and a soft citrus peel note from the Simcoe and Galaxy hop combination. On the palate, the beer is full and pillowy, with juicy stone fruit and a mild resinous undercurrent that keeps it from going flat. Bitterness is deliberately low, with the hops expressing themselves through flavor and aroma rather than bite. The finish is smooth and moderately dry, with a lingering tropical quality.

About the Brewery

Cellarmaker Brewing operates out of San Francisco and has built a strong reputation as one of the Bay Area's premier hop-forward breweries since opening in 2013. They're particularly well regarded for their IPAs and hazy ales, often releasing small-batch, heavily hopped beers that move quickly. Their taproom-focused model means many releases are draft-only or canned in limited runs, which has cultivated a dedicated local following.

Food Pairings

Spicy Thai curry works well here because the beer's tropical fruit softens heat without disappearing into it. Grilled shrimp tacos with mango salsa mirror the hop character and let the fruitiness read as intentional seasoning. A soft washed-rind cheese like Taleggio provides enough funk and fat to stand up to the juicy bitterness. Fish and chips also pair cleanly, with the light bready malt soaking up the oil and the hops cutting through richness.

Style Guide

Hazy IPAs — also called New England IPAs or NEIPAs — are defined by intentional hop-forward juiciness, low perceived bitterness, and a soft, full body that comes from high wheat or oat additions and specific yeast strains that encourage haze. They originated on the East Coast of the United States in the early 2010s, with Vermont breweries like The Alchemist often credited as pioneers. Unlike West Coast IPAs, which emphasize clean bitterness and clarity, hazies prioritize aroma and flavor over bite, sitting in the 6–8% ABV range for most examples.