Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA

Tasting Notes

The aroma leads with ripe tropical fruit — mango, papaya, and a hint of citrus peel — backed by a soft, doughy note from the unfiltered grain bill. On the palate it's full and pillowy, with low bitterness and fruit-forward hop flavor that reads more like juice than resin. The body is deliberately hazy and smooth, with little of the sharp hop bite you'd get from a West Coast IPA. The finish is gentle and slightly sweet, fading cleanly without much lingering dryness.

About the Brewery

New Belgium is based in Fort Collins, Colorado, founded in 1991, and is one of the largest craft breweries in the country. They built their reputation on Belgian-inspired ales, most famously Fat Tire, before expanding aggressively into hop-forward and experimental territory. The Voodoo Ranger lineup has become their commercial engine, covering everything from session IPAs to imperial variants, and the brand now has wide national distribution.

Food Pairings

Spicy Thai curry works well here because the soft, fruity sweetness of the beer tempers the heat without fighting it. Fish tacos with mango salsa echo the tropical hop character and keep things light. A sharp cheddar or aged gouda provides enough salt and fat to balance the beer's residual sweetness. Grilled shrimp with citrus marinade reinforces the citrus notes already present in the hop profile, making the pairing feel cohesive rather than contrived.

Style Guide

New England IPA, sometimes called hazy IPA, is defined by its intentionally unfiltered, opaque appearance and a hop profile that emphasizes soft fruit and tropical flavors over the sharp bitterness typical of West Coast styles. It originated in New England — largely credited to The Alchemist brewery in Vermont — and became one of the most popular craft beer styles of the 2010s. Compared to a West Coast IPA, it uses less bittering hops and more late-addition or dry hops, producing a juicy, low-bitterness character with a fuller, creamier body.