Sloop Juice Bomb
1 log on Brewskipotatoes
Tasting Notes
Juice Bomb leads with a dense wave of tropical fruit — mango, passionfruit, and ripe citrus dominate both the aroma and flavor. The body is full and almost pillowy, a hallmark of the hazy IPA style, with low bitterness that lets the fruit-forward hop character stay front and center. The finish is soft and moderately dry, with just enough bitterness to keep the sweetness in check. Hop flavor here comes more from late additions and dry-hopping than from bittering additions, which is exactly what this style is designed to deliver.
About the Brewery
Sloop Brewing is based in New York's Hudson Valley, operating out of a cidery-turned-brewery in East Fishkill with a taproom that draws a strong regional following. Founded around 2011, they built their reputation largely on hazy and juicy IPAs — Juice Bomb being their flagship and arguably one of the beers that put Hudson Valley hazy IPAs on the national map. Their lineup leans heavily toward hop-forward styles, though they also produce a range of farmhouse ales and seasonal offerings.
Food Pairings
Spicy Thai or Vietnamese dishes work well here because the soft, fruity hop character cools heat without fighting it. A fresh fish taco with mango salsa mirrors the tropical notes already present in the beer. Mild, creamy cheeses like burrata or fresh chèvre contrast nicely with the dry finish. Grilled chicken with citrus marinade echoes the beer's citrus character without competing. For something casual, a good kettle-cooked potato chip provides enough salt and crunch to play off the lush, rounded body.
Style Guide
The New England IPA — sometimes called hazy IPA — is defined by its intentionally cloudy appearance, soft and pillowy body, and hop profile built around tropical and citrus aroma rather than bitterness. It emerged from Vermont breweries like The Alchemist in the early 2010s and spread rapidly as drinkers gravitated toward hop flavor without the aggressive bitterness of West Coast IPAs. Where a West Coast IPA is lean, resinous, and dry, the NEIPA is lush and fruit-forward, relying on late-stage and dry-hop additions to maximize aroma. ABV typically falls in the 6–8% range, though the style reads lighter than it often is.