Tree House King Julius
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Tasting Notes
King Julius leads with an intense wave of tropical fruit — ripe mango, papaya, and fresh-squeezed orange dominate the aroma in a way that feels almost like juice. On the palate it's full and soft, with a pillowy, low-bitterness body that lets the hop character do all the talking without any harsh edges. There's a subtle sweetness underneath that keeps the fruit notes grounded rather than cloying. The finish is relatively clean for the ABV, which at 8.3% sits on the higher end for the style without announcing itself aggressively.
About the Brewery
Tree House Brewing is based in Charlton, Massachusetts, founded in 2011, and has become one of the most discussed craft breweries in New England largely on the strength of its hazy IPAs. Their beers are sold exclusively at the brewery, which has driven a devoted following willing to make the trip and wait in line. Julius, the brewery's flagship, spawned a small family of variations — King Julius among them — that cemented their reputation for soft, fruit-forward hop expression.
Food Pairings
The beer's tropical fruit intensity and low bitterness make it a natural match with spicy Thai curry, where the sweetness tempers heat without fighting it. A lobster roll works well because the richness of the mayo-dressed shellfish finds a contrast in all that citrus and mango character. Soft, mild cheeses like burrata or fresh mozzarella let the hop aromatics shine without flavor competition. Fish tacos with a mango salsa echo the beer's fruit notes in a way that feels genuinely complementary rather than accidental.
Style Guide
New England IPA — sometimes called hazy IPA — is defined by its intentionally cloudy appearance, soft and pillowy mouthfeel, and hop character that skews tropical and fruity rather than resinous or bitter. The style emerged from Vermont and Massachusetts in the early 2010s, with breweries like The Alchemist and Tree House doing much of the early shaping. What separates it from a West Coast IPA is a deliberate move away from hop bitterness toward hop aroma and flavor, achieved through heavy late and dry hopping combined with specific yeast strains and water chemistry that produce a rounder, fuller body.