Judge’s Review: 86 Rating – Island Haze IPA by Wild Leap Brew Co.

Hazy IPA | Year-Round | United States

By Dan Preston

Judges Rating: 86
Aroma: 20
Appearance: 6
Flavor: 34
Mouthfeel: 10
Overall Impression: 16

Island Haze IPA by Wild Leap Brew Co. is a hazy IPA with the addition of pineapple and grapefruit puree that falls under style BJCP 2021 category 29 Fruit Beer with a base style of BJCP 2021 category 21C, Hazy IPA. The combination of hops, fruit puree and experimental yeast make for an intensely tropical beer. The experimental yeast is likely a version of the new thiolized yeasts, which have the ability to biotransform the thiol precursors in malt and hops into free thiols, thus producing a more pronounced tropical experience.
This beer pours a light yellow color with a fluffy off-white head that hangs around the rim. Like most IPAs nowadays, it is very hazy but not to the point of being opaque. The aroma is full of sweet topical fruit — pineapple, guava, grapefruit, lime — as well as some coconut. It’s hard to tell whether it comes from the hops, fruit or yeast, but it all blends together in harmony.
The flavor continues our tropical journey, and drinking the beer feels as if the entirety of the tropics is right there in your glass. It has fruit in all directions as well as light, sweet grain and honey malt and coconut to boot. It’s as if someone mixed a pina colada with all the tropical cocktails (hurricane, zombie, paloma, etc). Beyond all the fruit, the hops do also lend a moderate bitterness that keeps all the fruitiness from becoming too sweet. This leads into a semi-dry finish with a moderately light and soft mouthfeel.
This beer is truly adult fruit punch as it hits you with wave after wave of tropical notes. Ideal for lounging in the hammock with a light summer breeze surrounded by tiki torches.