Hop Valley Stash Panda 6Pk

Hop Valley Stash Panda 6Pk is a hazy IPA brewed with Citra® Cryo Hops® and grapefruit peel at 6.5% ABV, sold as a six-pack of 12 oz cans. What distinguishes this beer from the crowded hazy IPA field is Hop Valley's use of cryogenic lupulin extraction, a sub-zero separation process that isolates the most aromatic and flavorful compounds from whole-leaf hops while leaving behind much of the harsh bitterness.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.5%  |  Origin: Eugene, Oregon  |  Style: Hazy IPA  |  Brewery: Hop Valley Brewing Company (est. 2009)

Production & Heritage

Hop Valley Brewing Company was founded in 2009 in Eugene, Oregon, and built its reputation around hop-forward beers that showcase the Pacific Northwest's hop-growing heritage. Stash Panda is part of the brewery's Stash series, which revolves around Cryo Hops® — a proprietary process developed by Yakima Chief Hops that uses cryogenic separation at sub-zero temperatures to concentrate lupulin, the resinous glands inside hop cones that contain essential oils and alpha acids. The addition of grapefruit peel to the Citra® Cryo Hops® base gives Stash Panda a citrus-forward character that reads brighter and more fruit-driven than many standard hazy IPAs.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Orange zest and ripe grapefruit lead, followed by a wave of tropical fruit — think fresh peaches and apricots — with a faint pastry-like malt sweetness underneath. The Cryo Hops deliver pronounced hop aroma without the vegetal or grassy character sometimes found in heavily dry-hopped beers.

Taste: The entry is juicy and citrus-saturated, with orange and grapefruit flavors arriving immediately. Mid-palate, tropical notes of peach and apricot emerge alongside a hint of red berries, supported by a soft, pillowy malt body. Bitterness remains pleasantly restrained — present enough to provide structure but never sharp or lingering.

Finish: Light and clean, with moderate carbonation that lifts residual citrus and tropical flavors off the palate quickly. A gentle malt sweetness rounds out the final impression, making it easy to reach for the next sip.

How to Drink Stash Panda

Pour into a tulip glass or standard pint glass at around 40–45°F to let the hop aromatics open up while keeping the body refreshingly cool. Stash Panda is built for straightforward drinking rather than cocktail mixing, but it works well in beer-forward mixed drinks: a Citrus Shandy made with fresh lemonade plays into its grapefruit and orange profile; a Michelada benefits from its bright, juicy character cutting through the tomato and spice; and a Beer-mosa with fresh-squeezed orange juice amplifies its already dominant citrus notes.

Best For

• Introducing a friend to the hazy IPA style without overwhelming bitterness
• Backyard cookouts and warm-weather grilling sessions
• Building a craft beer tasting flight alongside other Pacific Northwest IPAs
• Pairing with casual takeout like tacos, pizza, or Thai food

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Stash Panda taste like? Stash Panda delivers a juicy, citrus-heavy profile dominated by orange and grapefruit, with secondary notes of peach, apricot, and a touch of red berry. It drinks light-bodied and easy with restrained hop bitterness and a clean finish.

How does Stash Panda compare to Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing? Both are nationally distributed hazy IPAs at similar ABVs, but Stash Panda leans more explicitly into citrus thanks to its grapefruit peel addition and Citra Cryo Hops, whereas Hazy Little Thing tends toward a broader tropical and stone-fruit spectrum. Stash Panda also uses cryogenic lupulin concentration, which generally produces a smoother bitterness profile than traditional dry-hopping.

Is Stash Panda good for beginners? Yes — its light body, accessible citrus flavors, and deliberately low bitterness make it one of the more approachable hazy IPAs on the market, while 6.5% ABV keeps it in moderate territory.

Where is Stash Panda made? Stash Panda is brewed by Hop Valley Brewing Company, founded in 2009 and based in Eugene, Oregon, in the heart of the Pacific Northwest's premier hop-growing region.

What foods pair well with Stash Panda? Fish tacos benefit from the beer's bright citrus cutting through rich, fried elements. Grilled chicken with a citrus marinade echoes its orange and grapefruit notes. Thai green curry pairs well because the beer's sweetness tempers heat. A simple arugula-and-goat-cheese salad with citrus vinaigrette creates a complementary match. Margherita pizza works as an easy, low-key pairing where the beer's carbonation cleanses the palate between bites.

What sizes does Stash Panda come in? Stash Panda is commonly available as a six-pack of 12 oz cans, which is the standard retail format.

Is Stash Panda worth the price? Stash Panda positions within the mainstream craft hazy IPA tier, competing directly with widely available six-packs from other major craft-oriented breweries. The Cryo Hops technology and grapefruit peel addition give it a genuine production distinction that justifies its place in the category at this price level.

Why Stash Panda?

The cryogenic lupulin concentration process is the defining feature here — it delivers a noticeably smoother, more aromatic hop experience than conventional dry-hopping methods, and it's a technique that remains relatively uncommon even among national-scale craft breweries. The grapefruit peel addition gives Stash Panda a specific citrus identity that separates it from the generic "tropical haze" profile that has become ubiquitous in the category. With a 3.7 rating across more than 37,000 reviews on Untappd, the beer has demonstrated consistent appeal with a broad audience. For drinkers who want a hazy IPA that prioritizes bright fruit flavor and drinkability over hop aggression, Stash Panda delivers a focused, well-executed take on the style.