The expression of hops in hazy IPAs are what give this category of beer its juicy quality. At Millpond Brewing in Millstadt, Illinois, you can taste the range that hazies have to offer.
On the lighter end of the spectrum is the Marginal Visual, a double dry-hopped beer with both Chinook and Citra hops. The Citra hops introduce classic notes of tangerine, grapefruit, lime and even peach and melon. Meanwhile, the Chinook hops bring a taste of the tropics.
“We have found that when we dry-hop Chinook it produces an overripe crushed pineapple flavor,” said Millpond owner and head brewer Bryan Schubert. These aromatics carry through to the palate, making this a refreshing, light and crushable beer.
The Estuary is the other side of the hazy coin. It’s brewed with St. Louis-based Omega Yeast’s British Ale IV yeast, which gives the beer a residual honey-like sweetness. The hops here are also double dry-hopped using Motueka and Strata, which give notes of tropical fruit, strawberry and lime, in addition to dank notes that inject balance and nuance. It’s a fuller beer with a longer finish that lingers until your next sip.
You may prefer one of these beers over the other, but they’re both winners in our book.
308 E. Washington St., Millstadt, Illinois, 618.476.9933, millpondbrewing.com
This article appears in March 2024.
