Head In The Clouds Puts Pacifica, a Pilsner Hop, in a Hazy

The hop pairing is the thing to look at here. Half Full Brewery's Head In The Clouds, a New England IPA at 5% ABV, is built on Ekuanot and Pacifica - one American variety and one from New Zealand. They are not an obvious couple.

Ekuanot is the familiar half. It is a modern US hop that turns up regularly in hazy IPAs for its melon and tropical character. Pacifica is the more interesting choice. It was bred in New Zealand from Hallertau Mittelfruh, one of the classic German noble hops. It carries a citrus-peel and floral character rather than the resinous, high-intensity profile that usually anchors the style. That parentage means it tends to appear in lagers and pilsners far more often than in hazies. Pointing it at a New England IPA is a way of adding brightness and lift without simply stacking on more of the same tropical fruit.

The brewery describes the result as having a fluffy, velvety mouthfeel with bright citrus, stone fruit, and tropical notes. It calls the beer hazy, refreshing, and easy to drink.

The strength backs up that last claim. At 5%, Head In The Clouds lands below where most New England IPAs sit. It is closer to a pale ale in alcohol while keeping the soft, hazy build the style is known for.

Head In The Clouds is packaged in cans and is among the recent releases available at Half Full's Stamford, Connecticut taproom and at Third Place, the brewery's second space in the city.