Deschutes Fresh Pack 12Pk

Deschutes Fresh Pack 12Pk is a 12-can variety pack from Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon, featuring their celebrated hop-forward Fresh series beers. The pack is anchored by Fresh Squeezed IPA, which earned a 94-point rating on BeerAdvocate from over 5,700 reviews and landed on Zymurgy Magazine's Top Ranked Beers list at #9. Deschutes took home Brewery of the Year at the 2022 Best of Craft Beer Awards, reinforcing the quality behind every can in this collection.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~6.5% (varies by selection)  |  Origin: Bend, Oregon, USA  |  Style: IPA Variety Pack  |  Brewery: Deschutes Brewery

Production & Heritage

Deschutes Brewery opened in 1988 as a small brewpub in downtown Bend, Oregon, and has since grown into one of the Pacific Northwest's most respected craft producers. The Fresh series beers are brewed with a grain bill of pale, crystal, and Munich malts, hopped generously with Citra, Mosaic, and Nugget varieties that define their signature citrus-and-pine character. Each year around Labor Day, Deschutes brewers travel to Doug Weathers' hop fields near Salem, Oregon, picking fresh hops and rushing them into the brew kettles within four hours of harvest — a commitment to ingredient freshness that runs through the brewery's DNA. Deschutes also made headlines as the first brewery to install BrewVo nested-fermentation technology, underscoring a willingness to push brewing innovation.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The lead beer, Fresh Squeezed IPA, opens with a burst of pineapple and citrus peel, layered with peach and a distinct orange-marmalade sweetness. Underneath the fruit sits a resinous hop character — sappy and beeswax-like — that signals the West Coast IPA pedigree.

Taste: Grapefruit and lemon dominate the entry, transitioning into softer tropical notes of mango and papaya at mid-palate. A solid, fairly dry malt backbone balances citrusy bitterness, with cracker-like grain providing structure without competing with the hops. The overall impression is juicy yet controlled, never cloying.

Finish: Medium-length with a clean, piney bitterness and lingering grapefruit zest. A faint dankness emerges at the tail end, inviting the next sip.

How to Drink the Fresh Pack

These beers are best served cold, between 40–45°F, poured into a tulip glass or standard pint to release hop aromatics. The variety format encourages tasting side by side to appreciate different hop expressions from the same brewery. Fresh Squeezed IPA works well in a Hop Shandy — blended with fresh lemonade for a backyard refresher. It also holds up in a Michelada, where the citrus and pine character plays off hot sauce and lime. For a simple twist, try a Beermosa with fresh-squeezed orange juice, where the IPA's tropical fruit notes amplify the citrus.

Best For

• Stocking the fridge for a summer cookout or tailgate
• Introducing a craft-curious friend to Deschutes' hop-forward lineup
• Hosting a casual tasting flight without buying four separate six-packs
• Gifting a Pacific Northwest beer enthusiast who values variety

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Fresh Pack taste like? The beers center on bold citrus — grapefruit, lemon, and pineapple — balanced by pine resin, cracker malt, and a clean, dry bitterness. Subtle tropical fruit notes of mango and papaya appear in the background, keeping the experience layered without overwhelming sweetness.

How does the Fresh Pack compare to Sierra Nevada Variety Packs? Sierra Nevada variety packs tend to span a wider range of styles, from pale ales to stouts, while the Deschutes Fresh Pack focuses tightly on hop-forward, IPA-leaning beers. Drinkers who want a dedicated IPA sampler with West Coast DNA will find the Fresh Pack more cohesive.

Is the Fresh Pack good for craft beer beginners? It sits in the accessible end of the IPA spectrum, with enough malt backbone to keep bitterness from becoming aggressive. Beginners who enjoy citrus-forward flavors should find the Fresh series an approachable entry point to hop-driven beer.

Where is the Fresh Pack made? All beers in the Fresh Pack are brewed by Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon, a high-desert city in the Cascade Range known as one of America's premier craft beer destinations. Deschutes was founded there in 1988 and remains one of the region's flagship producers.

What foods pair well with the Fresh Pack? Grilled burgers or bratwursts, where the hop bitterness cuts through fatty richness. Fish tacos with mango salsa, which mirrors the beer's tropical undercurrent. Sharp cheddar or pepper jack cheese for a simple snack pairing. Spicy Thai noodles, where citrus hops cool the heat. Lemon-herb roasted chicken, complementing the beer's citrus backbone.

What sizes does the Fresh Pack come in? The standard format is a 12-pack of 12 oz cans, the most widely available configuration from Deschutes for this variety collection.

Is the Fresh Pack worth the price? The Fresh Pack positions as a mid-tier craft variety pack — priced competitively against comparable 12-packs from major craft breweries. Given that Fresh Squeezed IPA alone carries a 94-point BeerAdvocate rating and strong consumer loyalty, the overall pack delivers solid value for the quality of beer included.

Why the Fresh Pack?

The centerpiece of this pack, Fresh Squeezed IPA, is one of the most critically acclaimed American IPAs of the past decade, scoring 94 points on BeerAdvocate and earning recognition from both Zymurgy Magazine and Draft Magazine. The variety format lets drinkers explore how Deschutes applies its hop expertise across multiple expressions, all brewed with Citra, Mosaic, and Nugget hops over a malt bill that refuses to hide behind bitterness. Coming from a brewery that won 2022 Brewery of the Year at the Best of Craft Beer Awards, the Fresh Pack carries a credibility few variety packs in the category can match. For anyone who values hop-forward beer brewed with Pacific Northwest precision, this 12-pack is a focused, well-curated collection.