Some reach for smooth and juicy, others go crisp and bitter—whatever your style, there’s an IPA for you. Hazy IPAs and classic IPAs both bring the hops, but they take very different approaches.
A Hazy IPA is all about soft, fruit-forward flavors, with a cloudier pour and a silky mouthfeel. Thanks to the interplay of hops, yeast, and grains like wheat and oats, Hazy IPAs have a full, almost creamy body with tropical hop aromas that jump from the glass. And while it’s loaded with hops, they’re added later in the brewing process (cold-side hopping) to crank up the flavor without imparting extra bitterness.
A classic IPA (think West Coast-style) brings a bold, hop-driven punch with a crisp, clean finish. It leans into pine, citrus, and floral hop character, with bitterness on proud display. The brewing process extracts more of that classic hoppy bitterness, balancing it with a malt backbone for a smooth yet assertive experience.
Hazy IPA vs. IPA Key Differences
Appearance
- • Hazy IPA: Cloudy, golden, and glowing—packed with unfiltered goodness.
- • Classic IPA: Clearer, crisper, and the color can vary. More traditional American IPAs (like Celebration IPA) use caramelized malts for an amber color and a touch of sweetness.
Flavor Profile
- • Hazy IPA: Bursting with juicy flavors like mango, pineapple and citrus, depending on the hop varieties. Low bitterness, high drinkability.
- • Classic IPA: Big pine, citrus, and floral notes with an overt and often lingering bitterness.
Mouthfeel
- • Hazy IPA: Soft, full-bodied, and smooth thanks to oats and wheat.
- • Classic IPA: Crisp, dry and refreshing, with a clean finish.
Brewing Process
- • Hazy IPA: Typically uses grains like wheat and oats toward haze formation. Big hop doses go in later for max aroma, less bitterness.
- • Classic IPA: Hops are front-loaded, extracting more bitterness and bite. Often filtered for clarity.
What’s Your Style?
- • Hazy IPA: Smooth, juicy, and ridiculously drinkable—even for IPA newbies.
- • Classic IPA: Bold, hoppy, and bitter—the ultimate choice for hopheads.
IPAs always bring the flavor, whether you’re chasing tropical haze or that classic crisp bite. So, what are you cracking open next?
