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9 Best New England IPAs


One of the most exciting things about the world of beer is the broad range of styles available to suit any palate, but to craft beer fans, the New England IPA stands tall. Sure, we could spend a whole article writing about the lagers, stouts, porters, West Coast IPAs, barleywines, sour ales, and seemingly countless other beer styles. There are myriad malty, dark, warming beers, many lighter ales, a cavalcade of tart, bittersweet sour beers, bitter, hoppy IPAs, and everything in between. Now that we’ve completely overwhelmed you, we’re going to take a few steps back by exploring one beer style in particular: the New England-style IPA.

Best New England IPAs at a Glance

Our list of the best NEIPAs goes like this.

Now we’ve had a look at our favourites, let’s check out the complete list.

RELATEDOur complete list of beer types and styles will guide you on a beer journey like no other.

1 garage project fresh ipa
Garage Project Fresh IPA | Image: Garage Project

1. Garage Project Fresh IPA

Brand: Garage Project
Release: Fresh IPA
ABV: 7%
Region: New Zealand
Price: AUD$49.99 – 4-Pack

The best thing about Garage Project’s Fresh IPA releases is the fact that every volume is a little bit different. Regardless of which volume you purchase, you can bet it will be unfiltered, unfined, and brewed with a selected combination of yeast, malts, and hops. It’s known for its bright, fresh, juicy flavour profile. Seek it out if you can find it.

Best of all, Garage Project’s Fresh IPA is the kind of beer that lends itself well to pairing, and not just with food. The Wellington-based brewery just announced a collaboration with Tasmanian whisky legends Lark Distilling Co., which sees it lend its yeast-forward flavours to Lark’s classic spirit via a cask finish. The two alcohol producers also offered a special collector’s release that includes a bottle of the Fresk IPA Cask single malt alongside a four-pack of the latest Garage Project Fresh IPA.

Don’t be surprised if this sets you back a pretty penny, however. Due to the seasonal batch release nature of the New England IPA, a pack of four can reach prices as high as AUD$49.99.

Buy it here (Liberty Liquors) Buy it here (Garage Project)  Buy it here (Beer Cartel)

Capital Brewing Co. Hang Loose Juice NEIPA | Image: Dan Murphy's
Capital Brewing Co. Hang Loose Juice NEIPA | Image: Dan Murphy’s

2. Capital Brewing Co. Hang Loose Juice NEIPA

Brand: Capital Brewing Co.
Release: Hang Loose Juice NEIPA
ABV: 6%
Region: ACT
Price: AUD$24.99 – 4-Pack

This 6 per cent ABV New England IPA is referred to on the brewery’s website as a “righteous blood orange NEIPA”.  Brewed with Amarillo, Amarillo CRYO, Mosaic, and Eclipse hops, it’s known for its tangerine, orange, and tropical fruit, juice-forward flavour.

Buy it here (Dan Murphy’s) Buy it here (Capital Brewing) Buy it here (Red Bottle)

Hop Nation J Juice NEIPA | Image: Dan Murphy's
Hop Nation J Juice NEIPA | Image: Dan Murphy’s

3. Hop Nation J Juice NEIPA

Brand: Hop Nation
Release: J Juice NEIPA
ABV: 7.1%
Region: Victoria
Price: $27.99 – 4-Pack

One of Australia’s most popular New England IPAs, Hop Nation J Juice is made with a large amount of Riwaka, Nelson Sauvin, Citra, and Mosaic hops. It’s unfiltered, hazy, juicy, and filled with flavours like grapefruit, ripe tangerine, candied pineapple, peach, and just a hint of floral, lightly bitter hops at the finish. There’s a reason this is a popular beer.

Buy it here (Dan Murphy’s) Buy it here (Mr West)

Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing IPA | Image: Sierra Nevada
Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing IPA | Image: Sierra Nevada

4. Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing IPA

Brand: Sierra Nevada
Release: Hazy Little Thing IPA
ABV: 6.7%
Region: USA
Price: $29.99 – 6-Pack

While it’s definitely not the first, there are few New England-style IPAs more popular (and easy to find) than Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing. Brewed with 2-row pale malts and Munich malts as well as oats and wheat, this juicy, fruity, crushable IPA gets most of its beloved flavour from the addition of Citra, Magnum, Simcoe, Comet, Mosaic, and El Dorado hops.

Buy it here (Dan Murphy’s) Buy it here (Sierra Nevada) Buy it here (Drizly)

Willie The Boatman Wet Willie Fresh Harvest Wet Hop NEIPA | Image: Dan Murphy's
Willie The Boatman Wet Willie Fresh Harvest Wet Hop NEIPA | Image: Dan Murphy’s

5. Willie The Boatman Wet Willie Fresh Harvest Wet Hop NEIPA

Brand: Willie The Boatman
Release: Wet Willie Fresh Harvest Wet Hop NEIPA
ABV: 6.4%
Region: NSW
Price: $29.99 – 4-Pack

This 6.4 per cent ABV New England IPA is totally unique in its creation as well as its flavour profile. As the name reveals, this is a fresh hop IPA. Australian hops are harvested and then used to brew this flavourful, hazy beer within 48 hours. The result is a juicy, fruity IPA was notes of tropical fruits, citrus, and floral hops.

Buy it here (Dan Murphy’s) Buy it here (Willie the Boatman)

New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA | Image: New Belgium Brewing
New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA | Image: New Belgium Brewing

6. New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA

Brand: New Belgium
Release: Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA
ABV: 7.5%
Region: Colorado, USA
Price: $29.99 – 4-Pack

New Belgium is a big name in beer in the US. Their flagship Fat Tire is one of the most popular amber ales on the market. We think the brand really shines with its Voodoo Ranger line of IPAs, especially its Juicy Haze IPA. Brewed with Citra, Cascade, Centennial, Simcoe, and Nugget hops, it’s known for its juicy, tangerine, pineapple, peach, passionfruit, and mango flavours.

Buy it here (Liquor Barn) Buy it here (New Belgium) Buy it here (Drizly)

Dainton Apocalypso III Post Apocalyptic Zombie Tiki | Image: Dainton Beer
Dainton Apocalypso III Post Apocalyptic Zombie Tiki | Image: Dainton Beer

7. Dainton Apocalypso III Post Apocalyptic Zombie Tiki

Brand: Dainton Beer
Release: Apocalypso III Post Apocalyptic Zombie Tiki
ABV: 7.5%
Region: Victoria
Price: $31.99 – 4-Pack

This zombie-adorned juicy, hazy IPA comes from the folks at Dainton Brewery. This 7.5 per cent ABV, limited release is known for its sweet, fruity flavour thanks to the addition of a symphony of Citra, Citra Lupomax, Sabro, and Hallertau Blanc hops.

Buy it here (Beer Cartel) Buy it here (Dainton Beer)

Mountain Culture Cult IPA | Image: Dan Murphys
Mountain Culture Cult IPA | Image: Dan Murphys

8. Mountain Culture Cult IPA

Brand: Mountain Culture Beer Co.
Release: Cult IPA
ABV: 7.5%
Region: New South Wales
Price: $24.00 – 4-Pack

If you only grab one of the New England IPAs on this list, make it Mountain Culture Cult IPA. Made with a smattering of new world hops, this unfiltered, cloudy IPA is known for its juicy, tropical fruit-forward flavour profile. Cracking out open and drinking right out of the can is as close to being magically transported to a tropical paradise as one beer could possibly do.

Buy it here (Dan Murphy’s) Buy it here (Mountain Culture) Buy it here (Liquorland)

All Inn Hazy IPA | Image: All Inn Brewing Co.
All Inn Hazy IPA | Image: All Inn Brewing Co.

9. All Inn Hazy IPA

Brand: All Inn Brewing Co.
Release: Hazy IPA
ABV: 6.2%
Region: Queensland
Price: $25.50 – 4-Pack

This 6.2 per cent, juicy, hazy IPA gets its pineapple, tangerine, peach, grapefruit, mango, guava, and mystery tropical fruit flavours from the addition of Azacca, El Dorado, Mosaic, and Citra hops. On the nose, this beer smells like a tropical fruit punch. What could be more welcoming than that? Luckily, the sweet, fruity palate continues this trend. The finish is loaded with tropical fruits and very little bitterness. It’s definitely a beer you’ll crave as soon as you’re done drinking it.

Buy it here (Beer Cartel) Buy it here (All Inn Brewing Co.)

How Man of Many Chose the Best NEIPAs

With more than 10 years of experience reviewing beer, wine and spirits, Man of Many’s team of editors has selected a list of the best New England IPAs. Additionally, author Christopher Osburn has more than 15 years of experience writing about alcohol and lifestyle topics across the globe. As our resident drinks expert, Chris is the perfect person to unpack these fruity flavours.

In addition to tasting every beer on this list, we also turned to the wider public for their overall ratings. Our list takes into account three major perspectives to determine the overall rating. In addition to our own opinions, we take into account reviews via alcohol retailer Dan Murphys and the Australian drinks forums such as Master of Malt and The Whisky Wash. Each sour beer identified in the list was measured on:

  • Flavour profile
  • Value for money
  • Appearance

What is a New England IPA?

While it seems like the hazy, cloudy, tropical fruit and citrus-filled IPA has been around for decades, it was actually invented in 2004 by John Kimmich, brewer at the highly acclaimed Vermont brewery The Alchemist. This was when he crafted a classic IPA he called Heady Topper, but didn’t pasteurize or filter it, thus creating a cloudy, murky, creamier version of the popular beer style.

In the almost twenty years since this style of IPA has taken the beer world by storm. While, for years, you knew that if you walked into almost any craft brewery you’d be assured you’d see at least a few traditional IPAs on the menu, now you’re just as likely to see a New England IPA or two.

And for those who don’t know the geography of the United States well, Vermont is smack dab in the middle of the area referred to as New England (other states include Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Maine). Just like the West Coast IPA gained its moniker because it was commonly made on the West Coast of the US, the New England-style (or NEIPA) got its name because it was first brewed in New England.

For a little background, while a classic IPA is commonly known for its hoppy, bitter (sometimes aggressively so) flavour, the NEIPA is known more for its sweeter, juicy flavour. This is because a lot of New England-style IPAs are dry-hopped and include ingredients like wheat or oats. Before you even take a sip, a good way to tell if you have a pint of New England-style IPA in front of you is to notice its hazy, cloudy, unfiltered appearance.

What Does a NEIPA Taste Like?

The simplest explanation is that a NEIPA tastes like freshly squeezed fruit juice. Yes, that’s right. While the flavour and mouthfeel can vary depending on the hops and other ingredients included, this IPA style is known for its cloudy appearance, juicy palate filled with flavours like mango, guava, pineapple, tangerine, lime, passionfruit, and other tropical flavours. It’s also well-known for being a respite from overly bitter IPAs because, due to ingredients like flaked oats, lactose, and the hops included (and when they’re added), it’s not bitter at all (or at worst barely bitter).

How is it Made?

Even though it carries the India Pale Ale name, brewing a NEIPA is different from classic West Coast IPAs (and other IPAs). They’re brewed with a grain base (pale malts are a popular choice) and ingredients like flaked wheat, oats, lactose, and various other ingredients. Part of the appeal of New England IPAs is the use of hops. Instead of simply adding a massive amount of hops during the kettle boil like with a traditional IPA, the hazy, juicy variety gets its flavour from adding more hops after the wort is boiled, during the secondary fermentation in a process known as dry-hopping. This adds the tropical and citrus flavours from the hops without adding any extra bitterness to the beer.

New England IPA vs Hazy IPA: What’s the Difference?

If you follow the timeline of this beer, you can see that it clearly began in New England (hence the name). Kimmich’s iconic beer at The Alchemist was the first, but it was followed closely behind by the likes of Trillium and Treehouse (breweries still carrying the hazy beer mantle to this day). So, to get back to the question, New England IPAs and hazy IPAs are ostensibly the same thing as there would be no hazy IPAs if not for the initial beers crafted in New England.

Regardless of what they are called (hazy IPA, juicy IPA, Murky IPA, unfiltered IPA, or other), they are all New England-style IPAs. This is simply a way to refer to the hazy, cloudy, juicy, fruit-filled style without actually referencing the term “New England Style”.

Interested in more Beer Related Stories? Here are a few to get you started:

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General FAQs

What's the difference between a New England IPA and a Hazy IPA?

There’s technically no difference between a New England IPA and a hazy IPA. It’s simply labelling. There are no rules and regulations about this beer style so brewers can label their IPA as a New England IPA, hazy IPA, juicy IPA, or whatever they want. Although it should be noted that, since it was created in Vermont and embraced throughout New England before hitting the rest of the US and the globe, all of these beers are New England-style IPAs.

What is a NEIPA?

A NEIPA (New England Style IPA) is a hazy, cloudy, unfiltered beer known for its juicy, tropical fruit and citrus flavours. It gets its creamy mouthfeel and juicy flavour from being dry-hopped after the initial kettle hopping and from the liberal use of ingredients like flaked oats, wheat, and lactose.