Style: Pale Ale

ABV: 5.5 IBU: 35.0

86/100
Aroma: 11
Appearance: 3
Flavor: 18
Mouthfeel: 3

New Belgium Voodoo Ranger 8 Hop Pale ale

What the brewers say

“Brilliantly balanced for easy drinking, this pale ale is packed with citrus and tropical fruit flavors from eight different hop varieties.”

What our panel thought

Aroma: “Earthy and onion hop aromas at first with clean malt aroma supporting. Then light fruity hops aroma with notes of melon and a touch of citrus and light berries. Overall the hop aroma is pleasant but unassuming and restrained.”

Flavor: “Simple malt bill is balanced very well with the bitterness level. Hops on taste buds match those on aroma. The creamy body has a touch of slickness and despite the voluminous, persistent head retention, the carbonation on the tongue is somewhat low.”

Overall: “Interesting, perhaps more traditional, hop profile over a very light and clean malt bill. Nice easy drinker with enjoyable citrus aromas, especially orange and grapefruit. It’s enjoyable yet restrained and untaxing—more of a drinking beer than a thinking beer.”

What our editors thought

Review printed in: Evolution of the Pale Ale (April-May 2018) (View All Issues)


REVIEWS FOR YOU >

New Belgium Brewing Company Voodoo Ranger IIPA

__Aroma:__ “Citrus (lemon, orange) and herbal with a touch of pine balanced with a slight honey note. A touch of alcoholic heat.” __Flavor:__ “Light and well-balanced with a substantial bitterness to balance the nice honey sweetness with some bready malt character. Hops are a complex blend of orange, lemon, and pine with some herbal complexity in the finish. The alcoholic heat from the aroma isn’t nearly as present. Hops bitterness lingers, and the hops flavor lingers lightly into the aftertaste.” __Overall:__ “Light and drinkable with just enough malt complexity to pull things together. The hops complexity is very inviting and the really nice honey malt character provides a pivot point. Very fresh and bright flavors, nice carbonation. Smooth and balanced (not words often associated with IIPAs!).

New Belgium Brewing Company Voodoo Ranger IPA

__Aroma:__ “High hops aroma that’s grapefruit/orange/lemon. Somewhat dank and piney with an earthy floral note. Light malt sweetness. There’s a toastiness in the malt that kind of reminds me of peanut butter.” __Flavor:__ “The hops profile showcases lemon, some melon, pineapple, and a bit of pine and onion. Body is slightly light. Some nice balanced sweetness to bitterness.” __Overall:__ “Well centered for the style. Big West Coast hops aroma with a bit of malt to support it.”

Green Flash Brewing Company West Coast IPA

__Aroma:__ “Rich, well-rounded nose with a ton of citrus character (blood orange, grapefruit pith, tangerine) and a malt sweetness to support. Very slight pine aroma as it warms.” __Flavor:__ “Complex citrus hops character (blood orange, grapefruit pith) with a little nice pineapple, and substantial bitterness, but enough bright malt character that provides a good balance to the hops with some sweetness and residual sugars. Mouthfeel is great with a dry finish. Hops bitterness lingers but is not unpleasant and to be expected from this style.” __Overall:__ “Pretty classic classy IIPA with lots of fun hops, balanced bitterness, and plenty boozy for the name. One could enjoy too much of this!”

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