City Lights Hazy IPA 6Pk

City Lights Hazy IPA 6Pk is a double dry-hopped New England-style IPA from Milwaukee's City Lights Brewing Co., available in a 6-pack of 12 oz cans at 7.0% ABV. This heavily awarded beer earned a Silver Medal at the 2019 Great American Beer Festival in the Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale category and received a 96-point Platinum Medal rating from Tastings.com, which ranked it the number-one IPA in the world.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.0%  |  Origin: Milwaukee, Wisconsin  |  Style: New England / Hazy IPA  |  Brewery: City Lights Brewing Co.

Production & Heritage

City Lights Brewing Co. operates out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a city with deep roots in American brewing history. The Hazy IPA is built on a grain bill of 2-row base malt, wheat, and flaked oats — the oats and wheat contributing the pillowy, turbid body that defines the New England IPA style. What distinguishes this beer is its double dry-hopping with Vic Secret, a newer aroma hop from New Zealand prized for intense tropical fruit character, followed by massive late additions of Citra, Mosaic, and Amarillo hops that layer citrus and stone fruit complexity without pushing bitterness beyond 35 IBUs.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Pineapple leads the nose immediately, followed by waves of ripe citrus and tropical fruit. Beneath the fruit-forward aromatics, there's a soft, bready sweetness from the wheat and oat base.

Taste: The entry is sweet and juicy, with bright pineapple and orange flavors giving way to melon and grapefruit pith at mid-palate. Despite the aggressive hop schedule, bitterness stays restrained, letting the fruit-forward character dominate through to the finish.

Finish: Smooth and medium in length, with lingering tropical fruit and a mild hop bite that emerges at the very end. The oat-driven mouthfeel keeps the finish soft rather than astringent.

How to Drink City Lights Hazy IPA

Pour cold into a tulip glass or stemless wine glass to concentrate the aromatic hop oils — this beer's tropical nose is half the experience. A Michelada variation works well here, as the citrus-forward profile complements lime juice and hot sauce. A Beer-a-Rita (blended with frozen limeade) leans into the tropical character for a warm-weather serve. For a simple Hop Shandy, mix half-and-half with lemonade to tame the ABV while amplifying the citrus notes.

Best For

• Backyard cookouts and summer grilling sessions
• Introducing hop-curious drinkers to the hazy IPA style
• Pairing with spicy tacos and Southeast Asian takeout
• Bringing to a craft beer share as a conversation starter

Frequently Asked Questions

What does City Lights Hazy IPA taste like? It delivers a juicy, fruit-forward profile dominated by pineapple, orange, and melon, with grapefruit pith adding subtle complexity and only mild hop bitterness at 35 IBUs.

How does City Lights Hazy IPA compare to other hazy IPAs? Tastings.com rated it 96 points and ranked it the number-one IPA in the world, placing it among elite New England-style IPAs; its use of the relatively uncommon Vic Secret hop gives it a more pronounced tropical character than many competitors relying solely on Citra and Mosaic.

Is City Lights Hazy IPA good for beginners? Yes — its low bitterness, smooth oat-driven body, and sweet tropical flavors make it an accessible entry point for drinkers new to India Pale Ales.

Where is City Lights Hazy IPA made? It is brewed by City Lights Brewing Co. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a city with one of the longest and most storied brewing traditions in the United States.

What foods pair well with City Lights Hazy IPA? Thai green curry benefits from the tropical fruit echoing the dish's aromatics. Fish tacos with mango salsa mirror the beer's citrus-forward profile. Sharp cheddar provides a savory counterpoint to the sweet, juicy hop character. Grilled pineapple or citrus-glazed pork ribs align naturally with the dominant fruit notes.

What sizes does City Lights Hazy IPA come in? This product is sold as a 6-pack of 12 oz cans, which is the standard retail format.

Is City Lights Hazy IPA worth the price? It positions as a premium craft IPA, and given its GABF Silver Medal and 96-point Tastings.com Platinum rating, it delivers strong value relative to other decorated hazy IPAs in the category.

Why City Lights Hazy IPA?

Few hazy IPAs at any price point carry both a Great American Beer Festival medal and a 96-point Platinum rating from Tastings.com. The double dry-hopping with Vic Secret — a New Zealand hop still relatively rare in American craft brewing — gives this beer a tropical intensity that goes beyond the standard Citra-Mosaic template most breweries follow. The restrained 35 IBU bitterness and oat-heavy grain bill keep it drinkable and smooth despite the aggressive hopping. For a Milwaukee brewery competing against nationally distributed haze juggernauts, those credentials speak for themselves.