Aurora Hoppyalis by Karl Strauss Review

According to Karl Strauss, Aurora Hoppyalis has quickly become one of their top beers and it’s easy to see why. This beer is fruity, smooth, refreshing, and flavorful with a delightful appearance. Not only that, it is award winning with a Bronze Medal for IPA in 2015 at the Great American Beer Festival. Even better, it’s now available year round.

The notes on the label as as follows:

Okay fine, we admit it, you can’t see the Northern Lights this far south. But San Diego has its own version of Aurora Borealis, and ours has cast a hoppy spell over this city. What the rest of the world calls an IPA, San Diego locals consider pale in comparison. Aurora Hoppyalis is our San Diego-style IPA brewed with Simcoe, Mosaic, Amarillo, and Citra hops. Robust flavors and aromas of tropical fruit, pine, and tangerine linger through a dry, crisp finish. Tonight’s forecast: clear hoppy skies.

Date Reviewed. April 16, 2016

Serving Size. 22 oz. bottle

Aroma. Citrus, cold pineapple, tropical fruit, orange gelatin candy, tangerine, slight hints of pine, orange blossom, muted malt aromas. 4.5

Appearance. Mostly clear, straw yellow color. Very light for an IPA. It almost looks like a lager. Frothy white head with good retention and leaves clumps of lacing on the glass. 4.25

Flavor. Bitterness is mellow and herbal with just a little peppery bite on the finish. A little malty sweet but not cloying. It has a refreshing bitter and sweet combination. 4.5

Mouthfeel. Medium bodied. Not watery. Has a nice effervescence. Crisp and clean. 4.0

Overall. This is a well crafted citrus and tropical fruit forward IPA. It has just the right amount of bitterness and malt sweetness for balance. The fruity aroma and the balanced flavor translate into an delicious, refreshing, and easy-to-drink IPA. 4.25

Beer Stats

• Brewery: Karl Strauss in San Diego, CA
• Style: IPA
• ABV: 7.%
• Bitterness: 60 IBU
• Color: 4 SRM
• Malt: pale malt and white wheat
• Hops: Simcoe, Mosaic. Amarillo, Citra

Disclosure: Karl Strauss graciously provided a free sample of this beer.