To celebrate Hazy IPA Day on 15 August, US brewery Sierra Nevada has teamed up with Swedish brewery Omnipollo to brew a special beer. The new brew, named Sierra Nevada x Omnipollo Hazy Day IPA, is an 8.2% ABV Double IPA (DIPA) designed to embody the essence of the hazy, hop-forward style. This collaborative beer will be available at Sierra Nevada’s breweries in California and North Carolina, its online gift shop, and select bars in New York.

Isaiah Mangold, head innovation brewer at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co, shared his excitement about the collaboration: "We go all in for Hazy IPA Day. We wanted a premium example of the style. So we designed this ultra-Hazy DIPA with our friends at Omnipollo for maximum hazy, hoppy flavour.” The beer is a perfect way to celebrate one of the most popular styles in craft beer today.

Collaborative effort in brewing and design

The collaboration between Sierra Nevada and Omnipollo extended beyond brewing, with both breweries contributing to the design of the beer’s packaging. Mangold mentioned that even the artwork on the cans was a collaborative effort, reflecting the influences of both breweries. "You can see and taste the influence from both breweries,” he said, highlighting the deep partnership in bringing this special beer to life.

Brewers from both Sierra Nevada and Omnipollo have described the Hazy Day IPA as "worth travelling for," although they encourage beer enthusiasts to still celebrate Hazy IPA Day by enjoying an IPA wherever they are. With its silky-smooth body and vibrant hop flavours, it is sure to be a standout beer for the event.

A special brew for Hazy IPA Day

The Sierra Nevada x Omnipollo Hazy Day IPA is crafted to offer a complex yet approachable taste profile. The 8.2% ABV DIPA boasts citrusy notes of pineapple and orange candy, finishing with a soft, juicy texture. This beer showcases the classic characteristics of a Hazy IPA, which includes a cloudy appearance and a hop-heavy flavour profile with resinous pine notes.

Hazy IPAs are distinguished from their clearer American IPA counterparts by their unfiltered nature, which allows them to retain a unique blend of flavour notes. This style has grown in popularity since it was first popularized in New England in the early 2000s, and the "haze craze" has since spread across the United States, including to the West Coast, where Sierra Nevada has embraced the style with this collaboration.

Celebrating Hazy IPA Day

The first-ever Hazy IPA Day was held last August, and it was spearheaded by Sierra Nevada to honour the rise of the Hazy IPA style. According to Lesley Albright, vice president of marketing at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co, “Hazy IPA has rapidly become one of the most popular beer styles, and we felt it was time to set aside a day to celebrate its indelible mark on the craft beer world.”

The Hazy IPA style, inspired by traditional India Pale Ales (IPAs), is sweeter and more approachable than its filtered American IPA counterparts. The unfiltered nature of Hazy IPAs allows for a fuller flavour, making them a favourite among craft beer drinkers who enjoy a bolder, juicier experience. Hazy IPA Day is the perfect occasion for fans to indulge in this beloved beer style, and with collaborations like Sierra Nevada x Omnipollo Hazy Day IPA, the celebration is set to be even more memorable.