Tree House Doppelganger

Tasting Notes

Doppelganger pours hazy and dense, leading with a wave of ripe tropical fruit — mango, papaya, and overripe peach — layered under a softer citrus note that leans toward tangerine rather than grapefruit. The mouthfeel is thick and almost creamy, a hallmark of Tree House's house character, with low perceived bitterness despite the hop load. Flavor follows the nose closely, with a sweet, almost juice-like quality that's kept honest by a mild resinous undercurrent. The finish is soft and relatively brief, leaving fruit rather than heat, which is notable given the 8.2% ABV.

About the Brewery

Tree House Brewing is based in Charlton, Massachusetts, and has become one of the most sought-after breweries in the New England IPA movement since opening in 2011. They built their reputation on an intensely juice-forward, hazy hop style that helped define the regional aesthetic, with beers like Julius and Green becoming reference points for the genre. Their taproom draws dedicated followers willing to travel significant distances, and their canning releases routinely generate long lines. They do not distribute widely, keeping most product direct-to-consumer.

Food Pairings

The beer's tropical fruit character and low bitterness make it a natural match with spicy Thai curry, where the sweetness tempers heat without competing with aromatics. A ripe mango or pineapple salsa on grilled shrimp tacos echoes the hop profile without overwhelming it. Soft, mild cheeses like burrata or fresh mozzarella let the beer's fruit notes dominate while the fat smooths the body further. The beer also works well alongside lightly seasoned roast chicken, where the subtle resinous quality cuts through the skin's richness without clashing.

Style Guide

New England IPA — sometimes called hazy IPA or NEIPA — is defined by its deliberately hazy appearance, low bitterness relative to hop load, and an emphasis on hop aroma and flavor over structure. It emerged from small New England breweries in the early 2010s, with Vermont's The Alchemist frequently cited as a key originator, and spread rapidly as drinkers responded to its juice-forward character. Unlike West Coast IPA, which prioritizes clarity, dryness, and assertive bitterness, NEIPA uses late and dry-hop additions heavily and often incorporates oats or wheat for a fuller, softer body. ABV typically ranges from 6% to 8.5%, though double versions push higher.