I wrote earlier today about the New Belgium Brewing Voodoo Ranger Thirty Games, wherein NBB has two new IPAs in the Voodoo Ranger series and want consumers to vote on which will be the first Rotator IPA for 2021. The brewery sent both beers for me to sample and share my thoughts, which arrived yesterday—just in the nick of time to finish out September!

So here are my late-in-the-day, last-minute voting thoughts of the two beers.

Agent 77 IPA

Agent 77 IPA is neither shaken, nor stirred, and brewed with international Nelson Sauvin and Galaxy hops to create a fruity and floral IPA that’s as charismatic as it is citrusy.

Both of these beers are 7.7% percent alcohol by volume, not sure on the IBUs. My notes on drinking this one:

Hazy yellow-gold appearance with crisp, whipped egg white head. Fragrant with tropical fruit notes and it’s nicely floral which makes me think of giant fruit blossoms. Like standing in the fruit section of an open-air product stand on a warm day. Goes for a juicy, hazy profile in flavor, with low spicy hop bitterness but a big punch of lupulin at the back, with fruit peel notes. Minty spiciness with a hint of tobacco. Medium-full body and soft malts in the finish.

Captain Dynamite IPA

Captain Dynamite IPA is locked, stocked and fully hopped, and he’s here to drink beer and kick ass, and he’s all out of beer. This hazy IPA is juiced with Mosaic, Simcoe, and Cascade hops and exploding with tropical flavors and aromas.

My notes: Dark orange, hazy, off-white and densely whipped head. Fruity aroma with stone fruit, light pineapple, some spicy allium (garlic greens), maybe a touch catty. Hint of citrus zest. That allium character is the primary flavor component I get, which goes more into that typical, Mosaic-y NEIPA character you’d expect. In this case by “allium” I’m thinking just-harvested garlic, laid out on a rack to dry, still mellow but pungent. Big hop flavors going into spicy hop burn, just a bit, and low bitterness allows a bit of malt sweetness to creep through. Hop candy.

The Verdict

My preference? Agent 77 IPA (thought “Captain Dynamite” is a better name). If you’re looking for big fruitiness with some hop bitterness, that’s your beer. On the other hand, if you’re looking for that classic spicy hop burn NEIPA in a hazy, then you should go with Captain Dynamite.

You still have a little bit of time to vote before September is officially over. So get on it!