Big Drop Paradiso Citra IPA

Big Drop Brewing are casting their 0.5% ABV net far and wide. Their product range seems to span the entire spectrum of beer types, from dark beers, to tangy IPAs, to crisp lagers, and even sour beers. As well as being available in major UK supermarkets such as Morrisons, Ocado and Tesco, they also seem poised to unleash their offerings upon the USA, opening themselves up to huge exposure and hopefully rewards. I personally feel that instead of trying to offer something for everyone, the company needs to focus on it’s core beers, as they have been hit and miss for me. Experimentation is good, but refinement is better.

This latest Big Drop offering to be plucked from my fridge is their Paradiso Citra IPA. A Citra IPA is a style of pale ale originating from the west coast of the USA and tends to be big on the citrus flavours, with orange, lemon, lime and even tropical notes coming from numerous hops used, notably the Citra variety – who’d have guessed! It’s certainly a popular style, and hoppy brews certainly tend to come out well as NA beers. Another award winner, picking up Gold in the Low Alcohol section of the European Beer Challenge, but is this IPA from Big Drop’s core selection packing the flavour and refreshment we’re after?

The beer pours a golden yellow colour, with the ubiquitous thin head which promptly disperses. On the nose we have tropical notes and grapefruit citrus bursting out at us, with some almost-honey malt sweetness lurking in the background. It appears to be setting itself up for greatness.

Tasting the beer we get all the flavours teased by the nose. Tangy grapefruit citrus, orange and lemon zests, some tropical and pine flavours with a touch of smooth malt sweetness in the background. Along with Citra, Big Drop have thrown Cascade, Chinook, Columbus and Simcoe hops into the mix, and boy do they pack a smack of flavour in there. The carbonation is pretty tight and gives a good mouthfeel, although I think this could be improved. A clean bitter finish leaves you wanting more.

Thankfully another success in my book from the Big Drop stable, will be sitting next to Pine Trail and Galactic Milk Stout in my next order. If it’s citrusy bitterness you’re looking for in an AF beer, this should definitely be on your radar.

Nutritional Information (per 100ml)

0.5% alcohol by volume
18.5 calories energy
0.1g fat
3.6g carbohydrates
0.1g sugar
<0.5g protein

(taken from the side of the bottle)

Ingredients

Water, Barley, Oats, Wheat, Lactose (Milk), Hops, Yeast