Saugatuck "Go Hazy" IPA

Initially, I was going to comment about the fact that this is a straight IPA. It's not a NEIPA, DIPA, DNEIPA, white IPA, or black IPA. But, then I thought about it a little more and, regrettably, I can't go nuts about that. These brewers and their constant use of the word hazy seems like the word just isn't being respected anymore. It's not an official style of the beer in the first place, and it's interpretation is implemented pretty wildly. Nevertheless, I do enjoy good IPA. So I'm willing to forgive.

The beer pours a suitably hazy medium gold color with a head filled with tiny to medium-sized bubbles that leaves just a minimum required amount of lacing as it boils down to a complete layer across the top of the beer. The aroma is sweet citrus. There is probably something sitting underneath all that citrus, but fruit is running the show, and I am happy for it. Let's just dig in.

First sip is pretty darn good. The citrus is, indeed, heavy with this one as grapefruit, oranges, lemons, and sudachi fill the mouth entirely. There is a dragging moat of bitterness hidden under the sweet fruit, but it doesn't come out at the end. Instead, a dryness seems to settle that is not entirely unwelcome. After the deluge of fruit, it is more of an oasis. That said, the sip is pretty darn good. I think I already said that, but it bears repeating.

Tip-in is filled with fruit peels of orange, grapefruit, and lemons to the point that the bitterness from the hops is almost sickly. The middle fires up carbonation of the roof of the mouth while the fruits enjoy themselves through the center and a sweetness lingers at the bottom. The finish again introduces a dryness that counters both the sweetness and the bitterness as fruit peels again dominate the overall texture.

Bottom Line: It's a pretty darn good beer.

3.5/5