Beer Reviews

Astro Dwarf (Hazy IPA, Pipeworks Collaboration)

Answers provided by Rhinegeist Sensory Specialist Travis Houston.

Astro Dwarf (6.0% | 60 IBU), our astronomically awesome Hazy IPA collab with Pipeworks, layers tropical and citrus notes upon an oat and wheat base. Dank with a delightfully soft mouthfeel, this brew may take you to a distant realm...

Malts: 2-Row, Flaked Oats, Red Wheat.

Hops: Bravo, Galaxy, Mosaic and Hallertau Blanc.

Astro Dwarf is a collaboration with Pipeworks in Chicago. Talk about how that partnership came about.

Craft beer is a fairly small and incredibly cohesive community. Mutual respect and random meetings at industry events helped turn this pipe-dream into a reality.

Astro Dwarf is a Hazy IPA. Where does the haziness come from?

The haze comes from a variety of sources. To soften the mouthfeel, flaked oats and wheat are added to the mash, which in turn contributes to the haze. An unorthodox, aggressive dry-hopping schedule also decreases the clarity. On top of all this, the beer is unfiltered.

What are the notable characteristics of this beer?

Hazy IPAs are loved for many reasons, the first of which being an incredibly soft mouthfeel. The unorthodox dry-hopping schedule amps up the juicy, tropical and citrus flavors to astronomical levels without increasing bitterness. Massive hop aromas and flavors are delivered without the lingering bite usually associated with American IPAs.

What gets you excited about this beer?

The haze craze is real! Traditionalists may be skeptical, since haze has always been viewed as a flaw, but just one sip and you’ll understand that the hype is justified.

What are some other Hazy IPAs that you dig?

Most attribute the creation of the style to the legendary Heady Topper, brewed by The Alchemist in Vermont. Also recognized as masters of the style are Tired Hands (Philadelphia) and Trillium (Boston), but all these beers are in high demand and typically require some extreme effort to get a taste.

In Cincinnati, Listermann Brewing has a line of extremely well-done hazy IPAs named after popular hip-hop artists. The Woodburn Brewery and Streetside Brewery also have great examples of the style available locally.

Appearance: Light gold with haze.

Aroma: Explodes with juicy tropical and citrus fruit, showcasing hints of mango, lemon, and passionfruit.

Taste: Low maltiness and low bitterness for an IPA. Passionfruit, orange and citrus fruit notes.

Mouthfeel: Much softer and smoother than a typical American IPA, with no lingering bitterness.

Overall: This hazy IPA is so loaded with tropical and citrus fruit aromas, you might think you’re drinking a glass of juice!

What foods would pair well with Astro Dwarf?

Fish tacos drizzled with lime, or a salad with grilled chicken and a raspberry vinaigrette.

Ideal glassware for Astro Dwarf?

A tulip is a great glass for an IPA, because the slight inward curve at the rim traps aromas and releases them with each sip.