Little Willow Will Power

Will Power is a New England-style IPA from Little Willow. The style is defined by a hazy, opaque body and a hop character built around aroma rather than bite. Expect juicy, tropical and citrus-leaning hop notes, such as mango, orange peel and stone fruit, with a soft, pillowy mouthfeel and low perceived bitterness. No ABV or IBU figures were supplied for this beer, so check the can or label for the exact numbers. Hazy IPAs of this type typically sit in the mid-to-high single digits for alcohol, with a restrained bitterness that keeps the fruit in front. The soft body in this style usually comes from oats or wheat in the grain bill and a yeast strain that leaves fruity esters and some residual haze. The malt stays in the background, offering a light bready sweetness that supports the hops without competing with them. The finish tends to be smooth and slightly sweet, with little of the sharp, resinous bitterness found in West Coast IPAs. Serve it cold but not ice-cold, around 6 to 8°C (43 to 46°F). Fridge-cold temperatures mute the hop aromatics, and a few minutes out of the fridge lets the fruit open up. Pour into a tulip, a shaker-style pint glass or a wide-mouthed IPA glass. A fairly vigorous pour is worthwhile, since a hazy IPA benefits from a bit of agitation to release the aroma, and the tapered rim of a tulip holds those volatile hop oils close to the nose. Drink it fresh. Hop-forward hazy beers fade faster than most styles, so the sooner it is opened after packaging, the brighter the fruit will be. For food, the juicy hop profile and low bitterness suit spicy dishes well, including Thai green curry, chicken tacos with a lime-heavy salsa or buffalo wings, where the beer's soft sweetness tempers the heat. It also pairs with fish tacos, grilled shrimp, burgers with sharp cheddar, and carrot cake, whose spice and cream-cheese frosting echo the beer's fruit and rounded body.