Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects IPA Non-Alcoholic Beer is available from Drizly.
The average beer aisle is broken down into many styles. The classics, like German pilsner or hefeweizen have been around for hundreds of years, with newer beer styles such hazy IPA making their mark in the last 20 years.
Alchemist Brewing in Vermont launched the first hazy IPA in 2004 and has received worldwide popularity since then, so it’s no surprise that non-alcoholic versions of this popular beer are now hitting the market.
The style is known for being less bitter than typical IPA, with floral, citrus flavors. The color is the most noticeable difference between a typical IPA and a hazy one. What makes an IPA hazy is its unfiltered quality, which gives the beer a cloudy, murky look. When you make beer, you have to filter out the sludge accumulated at the bottom of your vat during fermentation. A hazy IPA is made without filtering out the sludge, including yeast and malt proteins.
The team at Brooklyn Brewery aren’t strangers to experimentation. The iconic brewery has been a mainstay in the craft beer scene since 1988, long before the hype reached critical mass.
The brand’s first Special Effects line debuted in 2018 in Sweden after extensive market research. Additional testing releases came before it hit the U.S. in 2019. In addition to the non-alcoholic Special Effects Hazy IPA, the line also includes a regular IPA, Hoppy Amber and Pils. The Pils and the Hazy IPA are available exclusively via the Special Effects Variety Pack. The Hazy IPA is one of their newest additions to the non-alcoholic lineup and was released in January of 2022.
Upon first pour, Special Effects Hazy IPA has a pale straw color with a couple of inches of foam that take a while to dissipate. The hazy, unfiltered body comes through, and a good amount of carbonation is present.
The aroma has hints of orange, but the first flavor I pick up is more lemonade than beer. The lightness in this variety reminds me of a dry citrus seltzer or soda. I find with this brew that the flavors show themselves for only just a moment before quickly disappearing.
To my tongue, Special Effects Hazy IPA doesn't have much body or dimension compared to other nonalcoholic IPAs I've had. The level of carbonation is spot on, but there isn't a lot of body in the liquid itself. The carbonation offers texture, which is nice, but it feels a bit thin overall. There’s the possibility of a great non-alcoholic beer here but it falls a bit flat for me.
Summary: Special Effects Hazy IPA offers a bright spot with each sip, but it's all too brief. If you're not a big fan of hops, this may be the no-alcohol IPA for you.
If you are looking for a hoppy non-alcoholic IPA, try Two Roots Enough Said instead.
And if you’re looking for a more tropical non-alcoholic IPA, try Rescue Club Brewing’s NA IPA.