Every hop hero needs a nemesis….

This diabolically-hopped Hazy IPA evades the style police with vibrant tropical aromas, bright citrus notes and a pillowy mouthfeel that will have you second-guessing everything you thought you knew about hops! Doc Hops is a limited release, available on draft and in cans exclusively in the Hop Box variety pack. Read on to get the full dossier on the latest Hop Box-exclusive release!

Reviews are done by our Sensory Specialist Travis Houston, a Certified Cicerone and FoBAB judge.

Malts: Pilsner, White Wheat, Dextrin, Flaked Oats, Acidulated

Hops: Alora, Galaxy, Citra

Doc Hops is a Hop Box feature.  For our readers that don’t already know, talk about the Hop Box and let us know how Doc Hops fits in.  

The Hop Box is a mixed pack that allows us to showcase all the different, interesting ways hops can be used in modern brewing. The beers in this pack utilize a combination of new hop varietals, novel brewing techniques, and exciting innovations in yeast. Doc Hops is brewed with Citra, Galaxy, and Alora– an exciting new varietal that features a unique array of oils that aren’t found in traditional hops, unlocking a bouquet of novel fruit flavors.

Can you give a little background on Doc Hops? We’ve done a lot of innovation in the Hazy IPA space over the past few years. How is Doc Hops unique?

Traditionally dry-hopped beers, including IPAs, are made by allowing fermentation to finish before adding a dose of hops. By adding hops during fermentation, the time that yeast is actively converting sugars extracted from malt into alcohol, physical changes to hop oils by yeast create intense fruity flavors in a process called biotransformation. Hops are also used sparingly in the boil or whirlpool, meaning the beer has little residual bitterness. Additions of other grains, like wheat and oats, create a smooth, full-bodied mouthfeel. Add all these factors together and you’re left with a low bitterness, incredibly fruity, juice-like IPA, with haze as a by-product of this process. By not passing these beers through a filter, that haze is preserved in the final product.

What makes you want to drink this beer?

Brilliant tropical fruit aromas, vibrant fruit flavors, and a full, pillowy mouthfeel makes me crave this beer all day long. 

What is Doc Hops’ supervillain agenda? Are Doc Hops and Truth Bomb arch nemeses?

Doc Hops wants to use top-secret biotransformation technology to turn every beer hazy! IPAs, lagers, stouts, you name it: this hazy hoodlum won’t stop until every single beer is imbued with a juicy, cloudy haze. Truth Bomb is stepping in to stop this diabolical plan from coming to fruition. Not that Truth Bomb has anything against hazy beers per se; Truth Bomb just realizes that the world is a better place where beers of all levels of opacity and clarity can shine. So get ready for an epic battle of good vs…also good? This rivalry plays out in the latest edition of the Hop Box hoppy variety pack! Truth Bomb is there to protect Truth and Beer for Humans from Doc Hops’ nefarious biotransformation ray and convince Doc Hops to use these powers for good. We believe the rivalry will have a hoppy ending…

Appearance: Straw-colored with an OJ-like haze.

Aroma: Tropical fruit, mango and citrus. 

Taste: Bright, juicy citrus, ripe melon, mouthwatering stonefruit. 

Mouthfeel: Full and pillowy; slightly creamy from the white wheat and flaked oats. 

Overall: Doc Hops is a classic example of a Hazy IPA; lots of expressive fruit notes with plenty of hop character while not being overly bitter or piney. 

What foods would pair well with Doc Hops? Fish tacos with a mango salsa, chicken tikka masala, or maybe something a Bond villain would enjoy, such as Beluga caviar.

Ideal glassware for Doc Hops? You could drink this one out of a standard shaker pint, but you might want to bust out something more unique and villainous for this one. Maybe a teku glass, or a tulip glass with a very dramatic bell and taper. Maybe even a beaker or an alembic. Each sip should be accompanied by a maniacal cackle.