Tree House Sap
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Tasting Notes
The aroma leads with bright tropical fruit — mango, pineapple, and a softer citrus note underneath — with very little of the sharp, resinous quality you'd find in a West Coast IPA. On the palate it's full and round, almost pillowy in texture, with the hops delivering fruit rather than bitterness. Bitterness in the finish is low and gentle, letting the sweetness linger a bit longer than expected. At 8.2% the alcohol is present but well-integrated, not hot.
About the Brewery
Tree House Brewing is based in Charlton, Massachusetts and has built one of the most devoted followings in American craft beer since opening in 2011. They're widely credited as one of the breweries that defined the New England IPA style, and their flagship beers — Julius being the most famous — routinely appear on best-beer lists. Their taproom draws visitors from across the country willing to wait in long lines, and they've largely avoided wide distribution, keeping the beer locally scarce and in-demand.
Food Pairings
Spicy Thai or Vietnamese dishes work well here because the beer's fruit-forward softness dampens heat without disappearing against bold aromatics. A rich, fatty pork belly or carnitas plays off the beer's body and lets the tropical hop notes cut through the fat. Soft cheeses like brie or camembert echo the creamy mouthfeel and don't compete with the delicate bitterness. Fresh ceviche, with its citrus-marinated brightness, mirrors the beer's fruit character in a clean, complementary way.
Style Guide
New England IPA — sometimes called hazy IPA — is defined by its opaque, hazy appearance, low bitterness, and heavy emphasis on late and dry-hopping techniques that produce intense tropical and stone-fruit aromas. The style emerged in New England in the early 2010s, with breweries like Tree House and The Alchemist in Vermont helping popularize it nationally. Unlike West Coast IPAs, which favor resinous bitterness and a dry, clear finish, NEIPAs prioritize soft mouthfeel and hop aroma over hop bite, often using flaked oats or wheat in the grain bill to build that characteristic body.