Summer Haze

Once rare, the hazy IPA is now a great-tasting supermarket essential.

- by JOSHUA M. BERNSTEIN

IN THE MID-2010s, craft brewing had a Beanie Babies moment. Beer drinkers drove for hours—and lined up for several more—to buy limited-edition hazy IPAs. Unlike earlier IPAs that could be overly bitter, these modern IPAs were as flavorful as fruit juice. Bitterness? Barely there. Oats, wheat, and unique yeast strains supplied cloudy looks and silky mouthfeel, while newly developed hop varieties delivered flavors of citrus and tropical fruit. While the style originated in the Northeast, it fast spread to breweries countrywide and became a staple in supermarket coolers (no queues!). Hazy IPAs aren't the new beers on the block, but the latest batches are better than ever—and perfectly suited to summer sipping. Breweries have perfected the haze and are now layering in unexpected fragrances, such as specific cannabis strains, and cranking up fruity flavors and booze. These hazies are cl