Back when Crux Fermentation Project released Gypsy Coolship No. 2 in March, two other newly canned beers were introduced as well: Bubble Wrap Hazy IPA and Battlestar IPA. I’d gotten samples of each and included a short bit about them in my article on the Coolship—but they are pretty tasty beers deserving the review treatment on their own. Let’s go—

Bubble Wrap Hazy IPA

Here’s what the brewery said when the cans were released:

The best selling beer at our tasting room for the past 12+ months is finally available all year long in six-pack cans for your everyday enjoyment. And in case you haven’t had the pleasure of drinking Bubble Wrap yet, know that it’s dangerously delicious with a balanced body of flaked oats and wheat accompanied by a whole lot of Citra, Mosaic, and Galaxy hops popping with juicy, tropical flavors. (6.2% ABV / 30 IBUs)

Mosaic and Galaxy hops are the running theme here with these two beers, a combination which seem to work well together.

Appearance: It is indeed hazy, kind of a dirty yellow color that reminds me a bit of POG juice (unfiltered, of course). The head is a pretty standard off-white and fizzy.

Smell: Pineapple juice, a hint of allium, a really nice cracker/bready malt note. There’s a bit of guava, a moderately sweet “juice” aroma that’s rich and almost like caramelized pineapple (pineapple upside down cake).

Taste: There’s a good hop flavor that (for me) goes in a spicy/peppery direction, with notes of chive. Juicy character comes out in the back, riding on a soft malt body that’s a blend of bread dough and Cream of Wheat cereal. More allium-forward hops (green onion) come out as it warms, with a slight bite and an herbal spicy flourish.

Mouthfeel: Medium to medium-full bodied, boosted by the protein haze that’s soft and pillowy.

Overall: A good representation of the style and I can see why it’s been the tasting room favorite. I had several cans that I drank over time, the final one about two months after the canning date, and while there’s a definite change in profile over time, it holds up well.

Battlestar IPA

This one’s a limited release, the first in Crux’s seasonal 16-ounce can series for the year, and doesn’t appear to be available from Crux directly any more. However, it may very well still be on retail shelves so I’d keep an eye out for it.

Our boundless pursuit of the perfect IPA took us halfway around the globe before sending us straight out of the solar system in search of a supreme balance of hops, malt, and inspiration. Dry-hopped with Galaxy and Mosaic hops, this galactic India pale ale delivers intense tropical and citrusy flavors suitable for faster-than-light travel, casual projection, or just kicking back with friends here on Earth. (7.8% ABV / 65 IBUs)

Appearance: Beautiful bright clarity and a copper-gold color, topped by three fingers of fluffy, lacy, thick foam. It’s a pretty textbook-perfect appearance as far as I’m concerned.

Smell: Really nice tropical fruit notes, with tangerine and a touch of garlic greens (probably from the Mosaic hops). Some resin, leafy hops, and some sweat. Grainy, super clean malt aroma (bread, cracker).

Taste: Nice spicy hop flavor and a mellow bitterness that’s herbal and a hint minty. Some citrus pith and light zest that’s more oily than fruity. Clean malt flavor carries through, bread crust, grainy, and delicious, it’s a good foil for the hops. I’m still getting allium characters (garlicy, etc.) but I’m not mad about it—it’s well-balanced and moreish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, clean, with a residual citrus oil feel, a hop bitterness that lingers.

Overall: One of the best new IPAs I’ve had in awhile, I really enjoyed it.