Reviews are done by Jim Matt, our Chief Science Officer, who is also a veteran FoBAB judge, GABF judge, and BJCP Master judge.

Feeling Good (7.0% | 49 IBU) — the first release in our new Hazy IPA series — is delightfully juicy, offering notes of apricot, mango, and orange, while pillowing the palate with a smooth, full body. This brew debuted in 2017, a collaborative effort with our East Coast amigos at Castle Island Brewing Co. in Norwood, MA. Feeling Good is a seasonal offering, available in 16oz cans (our first 16oz offering!) and on draft in limited quantities. To learn more about our Hazy IPA series, watch the short, information-packed video featuring our co-founder, Bryant Goulding above.

Malts: 2-row, Pilsner, Wheat

Hops: Amarillo, Idaho 7, Citra

Feeling Good was born out of a 2017 collaboration with our friends at Castle Island Brewing Co. in Norwood, MA. Talk about this brew’s trajectory from idea to can!

When we do a collaboration, we approach it in the truest sense of the word. Castle Island is well-known as an outstanding producer of Hazy IPAs, and we here at Rhinegeist have a reputation of producing tasty, hoppy beers. This was a perfect marriage, where we were able to dabble in the Hazy IPA territory, and the results reflect the high quality standards that are set by both breweries.

Feeling Good is our first 16oz can! Why up the ounces for this brew?

A couple of different reasons. First, Hazy IPAs have a reputation of being available in 16oz cans, and we wanted to follow in that tradition. Second, it distinguishes the beer from the rest of our portfolio — the can itself and the artwork really stand out on the shelf.

This beer is a Hazy India Pale Ale! Talk about that style and the overall “haze craze” in craft beer.

The craze started in New England where they intentionally left some yeast and protein haze in the beer (The Alchemist — with Heady Topper — was one of the first breweries to start producing these). This one was a challenging one for me personally to get on board with. Quality craft beer has always intellectually been about producing a clear, stable beer with a long shelf life. Then along came the “Hazy IPA” craze, and many old-school guys initially looked upon this as “poor brewing practice.” What we learned from jumping in is that we can produce a quality beer, free of defects, that is delicious, hazy and balanced.

What are the notable characteristics of this beer?

Light in color, definitively hazy with high hop aroma and flavor.

What makes you want to drink this beer?

It just goes down so easily for an IPA.

Appearance: Yellow color with a moderately-high level of haze. Thick white head with excellent retention. Medium carbonation.

Aroma: High hop aroma with notes of tangerine peel, ruby red grapefruit, and a background note of resin/dank/pine. Very low malt aroma. Medium low fruity esters.

Taste: Medium high hop flavor, citrus, orange rind, apricot, mango, ruby red grapefruit and light piney notes. Comes just short of being too, “juicy.” Medium-low fruity esters that are present and complementary to the hop character. Medium bitterness. Dry finish. Almost no malt flavor.

Mouthfeel: Medium creamy mouthfeel, medium carbonation, light astringency, low alcohol warmth. Does not really have a “gritty,” or “yeasty,” character to the mouthfeel.

Overall: A balanced, fruit forward version of a Hazy IPA that is quite balanced and refreshing.

What foods would pair well with Feeling Good?

Honey lemon ginger chicken or halibut in a green curry coconut sauce.

Ideal glassware for Feeling Good?

Go for a snifter glass that can hold a full pint with enough headspace to showcase that frothy head. Great way to demonstrate all of the characteristics of this lovely beer!