Deschutes Fresh Squeezed 12Pk Cans

Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA 12Pk Cans is a 6.4% ABV American IPA from Bend, Oregon, sold as a 12-pack of 12 oz cans. This hop-forward ale earned a Gold Medal at the 2015 Great American Beer Festival and holds a 94 score on BeerAdvocate from over 5,700 ratings — establishing it as one of the most consistently praised IPAs in the country.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.4%  |  Origin: Bend, Oregon, USA  |  Style: American IPA  |  IBU: 60  |  Brewery: Deschutes Brewery (est. 1988)

Production & Heritage

Deschutes Brewery was founded in 1988 as a small brewpub in downtown Bend, Oregon, and has grown into one of the largest craft breweries in the Pacific Northwest. Fresh Squeezed is brewed with a trio of Citra, Mosaic, and Nugget hops layered over a malt bill of Pale, Crystal, and Munich malts. The Citra and Mosaic combination — sometimes described as "Citra on steroids" — drives the beer's signature citrus-juice character, while the Crystal and Munich malts provide just enough body and sweetness to keep the 60 IBU bitterness in check.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Mandarin orange and ruby-red grapefruit lead, followed by waves of mango, passion fruit, and pineapple. A subtle pine resin backbone and a faint floral quality round out the nose.

Taste: The first sip lands with bright grapefruit and lemon juice, quickly giving way to softer tropical notes of papaya and honeydew melon at mid-palate. Underneath, bread dough and lightly caramelized malt provide balance, preventing the citrus from turning one-dimensional. The 60 IBU bitterness is assertive but clean.

Finish: Medium in length with lingering pine and grapefruit pith that dries gradually. A pleasant cracker-like malt sweetness persists just long enough to invite the next sip.

How to Drink Fresh Squeezed

Fresh Squeezed is best served cold — around 45°F — straight from the can or poured into a tulip glass to open up the hop aromatics. It also functions well in beer cocktails: a Citrus Shandy (half Fresh Squeezed, half fresh lemonade) amplifies the grapefruit character on a hot day; a Michelada built with Fresh Squeezed, lime, hot sauce, and Worcestershire brings hop bitterness into a savory context; and a Hop Drop (a shot of citrus vodka dropped into a half-pint of Fresh Squeezed) leans into the juicy tropical profile.

Best For

• Stocking a backyard barbecue cooler with a crowd-pleasing IPA
• Introducing hop-curious drinkers to a well-balanced, approachable American IPA
• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who values award-winning West Coast brewing
• Pairing with grilled food at tailgates and outdoor gatherings

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Fresh Squeezed taste like? Fresh Squeezed delivers bold grapefruit, lemon, and mango flavors supported by a bread-dough malt backbone and moderate pine bitterness. It drinks juicy and smooth despite its 60 IBU rating.

How does Fresh Squeezed compare to 3 Floyds Zombie Dust? Both are widely regarded as benchmark American hop-forward ales, but Zombie Dust is technically a Pale Ale at 6.2% ABV with a heavier emphasis on Citra hops alone. Fresh Squeezed runs slightly higher at 6.4% ABV and uses the Citra-Mosaic-Nugget combination to produce a broader tropical fruit spectrum alongside its citrus core.

Is Fresh Squeezed good for IPA beginners? Yes — the generous malt bill tempers the hop bitterness, making it one of the more approachable American IPAs at this ABV. Its fruit-forward profile tends to appeal to drinkers who find sharply bitter IPAs off-putting.

Where is Fresh Squeezed made? Fresh Squeezed is brewed by Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon, a city in the high desert of central Oregon that has become one of America's most concentrated craft beer regions.

What foods pair well with Fresh Squeezed? Grilled chicken with citrus marinade mirrors the beer's own citrus intensity. Fish tacos with mango salsa complement the tropical hop notes. Sharp cheddar or pepper jack cheeses stand up to the bitterness. Spicy Thai green curry finds a cooling counterpoint in the malt sweetness. And a classic cheeseburger with caramelized onions highlights the Munich malt undertones.

What sizes does Fresh Squeezed come in? Fresh Squeezed is widely available in 12-pack cans (12 oz), 6-pack cans, and individual 12 oz cans; draft availability varies by market.

Is Fresh Squeezed worth the price? Fresh Squeezed positions as a mid-tier craft IPA — priced comparably to other widely distributed American IPAs — but its GABF gold medal, 94-point BeerAdvocate score, and 92-point Wine Enthusiast rating suggest quality that frequently exceeds its price tier.

Why Fresh Squeezed?

The Citra and Mosaic hop pairing is now common across the IPA landscape, but Deschutes was among the early breweries to showcase this combination at scale, and Fresh Squeezed helped define what a citrus-forward, drinkable American IPA could be. Its 2015 GABF Gold Medal validated what drinkers already knew, and sustained critical recognition — including a 92-point Wine Enthusiast review and a top-ten finish in Zymurgy Magazine's 2017 Best Beers in America — confirms its staying power. In a category crowded with hazy and double IPAs, Fresh Squeezed remains a benchmark for balanced, hop-driven flavor at a sessionable-enough 6.4% ABV.