Mar 10, 2016

Karl Strauss Aurora Hoppyalis San Diego-style IPA

San Diego’s Karl Strauss Brewing has done some pretty exciting things with hops and IPAs over the past few years. Whether it’s their big, double IPA Tower 20 or, more recently, the stellar Mosaic Session Ale, the company just knows how to get the most out of a hop. Case in point: Aurora Hoppyalis.

The brewery’s latest concoction features a wonderfully tasty blend of Simcoe, Mosaic, Amarillo and Citra hop varieties in a dangerously drinkable 7% ABV (60 IBU) package. Aurora Hoppyalis even won a bronze medal at last year’s Great American Beer Festival for its efforts. This brew brings an array of fruity (pineapple, tangerine, grapefruit) characteristics to the table, as is expected of the modern day IPA. It’s certainly a hop-forward brew with just enough of a malt backbone to provide support for a moderate-to-high level of hop bitterness.

For those of you lucky enough to live within range of Karl Strauss and are a fan of the hops, Aurora Hoppyalis is the beer for your. It’s got a solid blend of hop flavors, fruits, pine and a deceptive drinkability (thanks to a fairly light body and crisp mouthfeel) that you’d be silly to pass it up. As for us poor saps on the East Coast, well, we’re missing out on a tasty treat.

This is a review of a promotional sample.