Trillium Ideal Wave Hazy IPA

Trillium Ideal Wave Hazy IPA is a 6.5% ABV New England-style hazy IPA brewed with Citra, Mosaic, Motueka, and Nelson Sauvin hops. Released as a collaboration between Trillium Brewing Company and Other Half Brewing Co. to celebrate Other Half's 10th anniversary, it carries a 4.29 out of 5 rating on BeerAdvocate.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.5%  |  Origin: Massachusetts, United States  |  Style: Hazy IPA  |  Brewery: Trillium Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Trillium Brewing Company, founded in 2013 in the Fort Point neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, has become one of the most respected names in American craft beer — particularly within the hazy IPA category. Ideal Wave was conceived as a collaboration with Brooklyn-based Other Half Brewing Co. to mark Other Half's 10th anniversary. The recipe pairs Other Half's classic IPA framework with Trillium's hand-selected Pacific Northwest and New Zealand hop varieties — Citra and Mosaic from the American Northwest alongside Motueka and Nelson Sauvin from New Zealand — resulting in a distinctly Southern Hemisphere-influenced hop character layered onto a familiar East Coast haze.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Lychee and sweet orange dominate the nose immediately, followed by bright lime zest and a subtle dank undercurrent. A faint spiciness from the New Zealand hops adds complexity beneath the tropical fruit.

Taste: The entry is soft and juicy with gooseberry and citrus pulp flooding the palate. At mid-palate, a pleasant graininess emerges alongside moderate dankness and mild spice, grounding the tropical fruit. Light-to-medium bitterness rises toward the finish without overwhelming the juice-forward character.

Finish: Medium in length with lingering citrus pith and a gentle hop resin quality. The bitterness fades cleanly, leaving behind a soft, slightly sweet tropical impression.

How to Drink Ideal Wave

Ideal Wave is best served cold — around 40–45°F — directly from the can or poured into a tulip glass to release the aromatic hop oils. A shandy variation pairs Ideal Wave with fresh lemonade on warm days, leaning into the citrus character. It also works well in a Michelada, where the tropical fruit and light bitterness complement lime, hot sauce, and Tajín. For a beer cocktail twist, try a Beermosa using Ideal Wave alongside fresh-squeezed orange juice — the lychee and gooseberry notes add dimension beyond a standard wheat beer base.

Best For

• Sharing with fellow hazy IPA enthusiasts who appreciate collaboration releases
• Summer cookouts and outdoor gatherings where tropical, crushable beers shine
• Adding to a curated craft beer tasting flight alongside other Trillium hop-forward offerings
• Gifting to a New England IPA collector interested in limited-edition brewery partnerships

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Ideal Wave taste like? Ideal Wave delivers a juicy, tropical profile led by gooseberry, lychee, and citrus pulp with a moderate dank and spicy hop backbone. Light-to-medium bitterness keeps the sweetness in check without veering into West Coast sharpness.

How does Ideal Wave compare to Other Half's version of the same beer? Both breweries released their own version of Ideal Wave using the same hop bill and recipe concept; the primary difference lies in each brewery's house yeast and water profile, which can subtly affect mouthfeel and attenuation. Untappd ratings for both versions hover around 4.1 out of 5, suggesting drinkers find them closely matched in quality.

Is Ideal Wave good for hazy IPA beginners? At 6.5% ABV with restrained bitterness and a fruit-forward profile, Ideal Wave is approachable for drinkers new to the hazy IPA style. The soft mouthfeel and tropical aromatics make it a welcoming entry point without sacrificing hop complexity.

Where is Ideal Wave made? Ideal Wave is brewed by Trillium Brewing Company in Boston, Massachusetts, one of the leading craft breweries in the New England IPA movement. The collaboration recipe was developed alongside Other Half Brewing Co., based in Brooklyn, New York.

What foods pair well with Ideal Wave? Fish tacos with mango salsa complement the tropical hop character; sharp cheddar or Gruyère cheese contrasts the beer's soft sweetness; Thai green curry mirrors the lychee and citrus notes; grilled shrimp with lime butter echoes the citrus zest aromas; and a charcuterie board with mild salami balances the hop bitterness.

What sizes does Ideal Wave come in? Trillium typically packages its hazy IPAs in 16 oz (pint) cans, which is the standard format for most of their limited and rotating releases including Ideal Wave.

Is Ideal Wave worth the price? Ideal Wave positions as a premium craft collaboration release, priced in line with other limited-run hazy IPAs from top-tier East Coast breweries. The four-hop combination featuring both Pacific Northwest and New Zealand varieties, combined with the anniversary collaboration backstory, provides strong value within the specialty hazy IPA tier.

Why Ideal Wave?

What separates Ideal Wave from Trillium's already deep roster of hazy IPAs is its origin as a genuine collaborative recipe with Other Half — not a contract brew or brand exercise, but a merging of two respected East Coast brewing philosophies. The hop bill is distinctive: pairing the familiar tropical punch of Citra and Mosaic with the white wine and gooseberry character of Nelson Sauvin and Motueka creates a layered profile that stands apart from single-origin hop beers. Its 4.29 BeerAdvocate score reflects strong critical reception among seasoned craft drinkers. For anyone tracking the intersection of New England and New York hazy IPA traditions, this release represents both breweries at a meaningful creative intersection.