For my latest article for The Bulletin, I reviewed the latest collaboration beer from Bend’s Newport Avenue Market and Bend Brewing—Canapalooza Big Top IPA. It was released for the Market’s Canapalooza event a few weeks ago, in which local breweries were on hand pouring samples in a mini-fest for the store’s big beer sale weekend.

As it has done in the past, Newport Market once again teamed up with Bend Brewing Co. to collaborate on the specialty brew. The company is calling this beer a “great summer sipper,” designed to be light and crisp with fruity hops for easy drinking.

“(I) wanted it to be a beer you could have a couple (of) and not feel full or weighted down,” said Robert McCarthy of Newport Market. With this in mind, I would highlight Big Top IPA as an example of a summer IPA.

There’s no officially designated style for summer IPA, but I would define it as typically brewed with lighter malts and hop varieties known for bright fruity aromas and flavors. Alcohol content averages in the lower range of 6 to 7% by volume, and while IBUs might be a moderately high number, there is less bitterness and more emphasis on fruit and other flavors.

Overall it should finish crisp, light and clean.

It’s a nice beer only available from the brewery and Newport Market (and its associated stores, Oliver Lemon’s), so get some now to enjoy with this hot weather.