Reuben's Brews Crikey IPA
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Tasting Notes
The aroma leads with bright citrus — orange peel and grapefruit — alongside a resinous pine note that signals a West Coast lean. On the palate, the bitterness is assertive but not harsh, backed by a medium-dry malt body that keeps it from tipping into thin or watery. Tropical fruit hints surface mid-sip before the finish dries out with a lingering hop bite. It's a well-structured IPA that puts the hops front and center without apology.
About the Brewery
Reuben's Brews is based in Seattle, Washington, founded in 2012 by Adam and Grace Robbins. The brewery has built a strong reputation in the Pacific Northwest for hop-forward beers and technically precise brewing, with a catalog that spans IPAs, stouts, and barrel-aged work. They've earned considerable recognition in national competitions and are considered one of Seattle's more serious craft operations.
Food Pairings
Spicy Thai or Indian dishes work well here because the hop bitterness cuts through heat and richness without disappearing. A sharp aged cheddar or a funky blue cheese mirrors the resinous, bitter edge of the hops in a complementary way. Grilled burgers — especially with caramelized onions — hold up to the beer's assertive bitterness and let the malt body show a little more. Fish tacos with a lime crema echo the citrus hop character naturally.
Style Guide
American IPA is defined by prominent hop bitterness, aroma, and flavor derived from American hop varieties — think citrus, pine, and tropical fruit — balanced against a supportive but secondary malt backbone. It typically falls in the 6–7.5% ABV range and developed out of the American craft brewing movement of the 1980s and 90s, diverging from English IPA by dialing up hop intensity and dialing down residual sweetness. Compared to a Double IPA, it's less alcoholic and less aggressively bitter, and compared to a Hazy IPA, it tends toward clarity and a drier, more resinous finish.