Ghost Haze (Non-Alcoholic Hazy IPA) Review

Brimming with supernaturally refreshing flavor, this Nonalcoholic Hazy IPA is the perfect choice when you feel like ghosting on booze for the night. Mouthwatering stone fruit notes and a juicy finish will make sure you don’t miss a thing. Read on to get the ghostly details on our first foray into the nonalc realm!

Malts: Pilsner, Flaked Oats, Chit Malt, Dextrin
Hops: Simcoe, Citra, Mosaic, El Dorado

Ghost NA is our nonalcoholic line. Can you talk a little bit about the genesis of this project?

Conversations about NA beer have been ongoing since 2022. High-quality NA beer production is a difficult endeavor to take on, but a recent partnership with Sustainable Beverage Technologies (SBT) has made NA production a reality for Rhinegeist. Ghost Haze and Ghost Pils are our solution for all those moments where beer is the perfect beverage but perhaps alcohol is not

Ghost Haze is a nonalcoholic Hazy IPA. What makes a Hazy Hazy?

There are a few key differences that separate Hazy IPAs from other IPA sub-styles. The first is the inclusion of higher protein grains in the mash bill- things like flaked oats, which lend a more full, juice-like body to the finished brew. The second is the dry hop schedule. In a typical IPA, fermentation is allowed to fully complete before another dose of hops is added directly to the batch. With Hazy IPAs, hops are added directly to a fermenting tank, allowing the yeast to biotransform hop compounds into aromatic terpenes that are typically present in things like citrus and tropical fruits.

What are the notable characteristics of Ghost Haze?

This beer might be nonalcoholic, but it’s loaded with the fresh, fruity notes that hazies are known for. The body is full and juice-like, while avoiding the unpleasant cloying character that used to plague NA beer. Mild hop bitterness is balanced by just enough malt sweetness, making this a deliciously refreshing brew.

What makes you want to drink this beer?

New brewing techniques and ever-evolving technology has made massive advancements in nonalc brewing. By combining multiple of these innovations in the production process, Ghost Haze tastes much more similar to a standard Hazy IPA than nonalcs of the past, which were often unbalanced towards sweetness, and lacked hop flavor and aroma.

What are some other nonalc hazies that you really enjoy?

Disarm by Go Brewing and Athletic’s Free Wave are both excellent nonalcoholic Hazy IPAs.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Bright gold with heavy haze and thick, white foam.
Aroma: Hop derived notes of fresh stone fruit, juicy citrus, and hints of clean, sweet malt.
Taste: Mild hop bitterness with just enough balancing malt sweetness.
Mouthfeel: Full and juice-like, exactly as a Hazy IPA should be.
Overall: Bright gold with heavy haze, our NA Hazy IPA manages to deliver massive hop-derived notes of stone fruit and fresh citrus, backed by a full body and refreshing finish.

What foods would pair well with Ghost Haze?

NA beers are perfect for lunch, so Ghost Haze would go great with a turkey club.

Ideal glassware for Ghost Haze? A standard shaker pint.