New Belgium Citradelic 12Pk

New Belgium Citradelic 12Pk is a tangerine-infused IPA from New Belgium Brewing, packaged as a 12-pack at 6.0% ABV. Brewed with ten hop varieties and tangerine-infused orange peel, this ale has earned a 3.7 out of 5 on Untappd across more than 261,000 ratings — a testament to its wide appeal among craft beer drinkers.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.0%  |  Origin: Fort Collins, Colorado & Asheville, North Carolina  |  Style: Tangerine IPA  |  Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

New Belgium Brewing Company, founded in 1991 in Fort Collins, Colorado, became the first fully wind-powered brewery in the United States. Citradelic is brewed using a grain bill of pale malt and Caramel 120, fermented as a traditional ale, and then dry-hopped with a complex blend of ten hops: Nugget, Crystal, Centennial, Azzaca, Cascade, Citra, Chinook, Galaxy, Mandarina Bavaria, and Simcoe. What truly distinguishes this IPA is the addition of tangerine-infused orange peel, which amplifies the citrus character beyond what hops alone deliver. New Belgium's proprietary cone-shaped boiler plate allows the wort to boil in half the time of a conventional system, using 65% less energy — a detail that reflects the brewery's longstanding commitment to sustainability without compromising flavor intensity.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Fresh tangerine dominates the nose immediately, layered with tropical fruit esters and a subtle oily character. Hints of pine and floral hops from the Simcoe and Galaxy additions emerge underneath.

Taste: The entry is mildly sweet with juicy tangerine flooding the palate from the first sip. Citrus is present throughout — not just the fruit but the rind as well — transitioning at mid-palate into a well-balanced bitterness driven by the interplay of Citra, Centennial, and Nugget hops. The Caramel 120 malt provides a light toffee backbone that keeps the beer from veering into one-dimensional citrus territory.

Finish: Medium-bodied with a lightly dry, clean close. Tangerine rind and a gentle hop bitterness linger without overstaying, making the next sip come quickly.

How to Drink Citradelic

Citradelic drinks best cold, straight from the can or poured into a tulip glass to concentrate its aromatic intensity. It also works well as a versatile cocktail and mixed-drink component. A Citradelic Shandy — blended with fresh lemonade — plays up the tangerine sweetness on a hot day. A Beer-a-Rita using Citradelic in place of a standard lager adds hoppy depth to the classic beer-margarita hybrid. A Michelada built with Citradelic leans into the citrus peel character, pairing naturally with lime juice, hot sauce, and Worcestershire.

Best For

• Stocking up for a summer barbecue or outdoor cookout
• Introducing hop-curious friends to approachable IPAs
• Pairing with spicy tacos or Thai food at a dinner gathering
• Bringing to a craft beer tasting as a citrus-forward conversation starter

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Citradelic taste like? Citradelic delivers an immediately recognizable burst of juicy tangerine supported by tropical fruit notes, transitioning into balanced hop bitterness with a clean, lightly dry finish. The Caramel 120 malt adds a subtle toffee sweetness that grounds the citrus intensity.

How does Citradelic compare to Green Flash Tangerine Soul Style IPA? Both beers are infused with tangerine and feature Citra hops, making them strikingly similar on paper. Citradelic tends to be slightly more accessible at 6.0% ABV with a broader hop bill of ten varieties, while Green Flash Tangerine Soul Style leans into a more assertive West Coast IPA bitterness.

Is Citradelic good for beginners? Yes — at 6.0% ABV with prominent fruit character and restrained bitterness, Citradelic serves as an excellent gateway IPA for drinkers moving beyond lighter lagers and wheat beers.

Where is Citradelic made? Citradelic is brewed by New Belgium Brewing Company, which operates breweries in Fort Collins, Colorado, and Asheville, North Carolina. The brewery was founded in 1991 and is one of the largest craft producers in the United States.

What foods pair well with Citradelic? Fish tacos complement the tangerine brightness without competing for attention. Grilled shrimp with citrus salsa echoes the beer's fruit-forward profile. Thai green curry matches the tropical hop notes while the beer's carbonation cuts through the richness. A sharp aged cheddar contrasts the citrus with savory depth. Lemon-herb roasted chicken creates a harmonious all-citrus pairing.

What sizes does Citradelic come in? Citradelic is commonly available in 12-packs of 12-oz cans, which is the standard retail format for this expression.

Is Citradelic worth the price? Citradelic positions as a mid-range craft IPA, and the combination of ten hop varieties plus tangerine-infused orange peel delivers complexity that punches above typical beers in its price tier. For a fruit-infused IPA with this level of ingredient layering, it represents strong value.

Why Citradelic?

What separates Citradelic from the crowded field of fruit-infused IPAs is the sheer breadth of its hop bill — ten distinct varieties working alongside real tangerine-infused orange peel rather than artificial flavoring. That combination produces a beer with genuine citrus depth, not just surface-level fruit sweetness. New Belgium's sustainability credentials, including being the first wind-powered brewery in the country, add a layer of purpose behind the product. With over 261,000 Untappd ratings and an 84/100 from Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine's BJCP blind taste panel, Citradelic has proven its staying power in a category where many fruit IPAs come and go with the seasons.