New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Tropic Force 6Pk Cans

New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Tropic Force 6Pk Cans is a hazy imperial IPA brewed at 9.5% ABV, available in a six-pack of 12 oz cans. Built on a seven-hop blend featuring Galaxy, Sabro, and Mosaic among others, Tropic Force distinguishes itself within the Voodoo Ranger lineup by balancing genuine hop character against its tropical fruit intensity — a restraint not always found in the Juice Force and Fruit Force siblings.

Quick Facts: ABV: 9.5%  |  Origin: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA  |  Style: Hazy Imperial IPA  |  Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

New Belgium Brewing Company was founded in Fort Collins, Colorado in 1991 and has grown into one of the largest craft breweries in the United States. Tropic Force uses a grain bill of pale malt, oats, and wheat — the oats and wheat contributing the hazy body and soft mouthfeel expected of the style. The hop bill is notably complex: Mosaic, Chinook, Pahto, Galaxy, Strata, Lotus, and Sabro work in combination to push tropical and citrus aromatics without leaning entirely on fruited adjuncts, setting this expression apart from more aggressively sweet entries in the Voodoo Ranger imperial IPA range.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Pink grapefruit leads immediately from the can, opening in the glass to reveal banana, strawberry, and mixed berry notes. The nose is bright and expressive, with citrus and tropical fruit dominating.

Taste: Grapefruit arrives on the entry, shifting into strawberry and pineapple through the mid-palate. Pineapple becomes the central flavor, joined by mango and coconut undertones from the Galaxy and Sabro hops. The bitterness reads sharp and acidic rather than resinous — closer to citrus peel than piney hop bite, giving the beer an almost cocktail-adjacent quality.

Finish: Medium in length with mild lingering astringency and a dry, quenching close. Pineapple and citrus peel carry through, while the high ABV remains well-concealed beneath the fruit character.

How to Drink Tropic Force

Pour cold into a tulip glass or drink straight from the can — either way, this beer benefits from staying well-chilled, which keeps the 9.5% ABV in check and amplifies its refreshing acidity. A Michelada variation works here, as the beer's natural citrus-forward profile pairs with hot sauce and lime without competition. Try it in a Beer-garita by floating an ounce over a classic margarita, where its pineapple and grapefruit notes amplify the cocktail's tropical backbone. A simple Shandy build with fresh lemonade tames the ABV while extending the berry-lemon sparkle reviewers frequently note.

Best For

• Backyard cookouts where high-flavor, high-ABV beer replaces mixed drinks
• IPA enthusiasts exploring tropical imperial expressions beyond standard hazy DIPAs
• Warm-weather sessions where a single six-pack serves a small group (the 9.5% ABV demands respect)
• Introducing hop-curious drinkers to imperial IPA through a fruit-forward, approachable gateway

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Tropic Force taste like? Tropic Force leads with grapefruit and pineapple, supported by mango, coconut, and strawberry notes, with a sharp citrus-peel bitterness rather than traditional piney hop bite. The body drinks lighter than its 9.5% ABV suggests, finishing dry and quenching.

How does Tropic Force compare to Big Ditch Basically Juice? Both are tropical-leaning imperial IPAs, but Tropic Force maintains more noticeable hop character from its seven-hop blend, while Basically Juice from Big Ditch Brewing leans further into pure juice-like fruit sweetness. Tropic Force also runs higher in ABV at 9.5%, which contributes to a drier, more assertive finish.

Is Tropic Force good for sipping neat? Yes — the complex hop bill and layered tropical aromatics reward slow drinking from a proper glass, though the 9.5% ABV means pacing matters. Keeping it cold and drinking at a moderate pace reveals the most nuance from the Galaxy and Sabro hops.

Where is Tropic Force made? Tropic Force is brewed by New Belgium Brewing Company, headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, where the brewery has operated since its founding in 1991. New Belgium is one of the largest independent craft breweries in the United States.

What foods pair well with Tropic Force? Grilled jerk chicken benefits from the beer's pineapple and coconut hop character echoing Caribbean seasoning. Fish tacos with mango salsa mirror the tropical fruit notes without clashing. Spicy Thai curry works well, as the beer's citrus acidity cuts through coconut milk richness. Sharp aged cheddar contrasts the fruit-forward profile, and pineapple upside-down cake creates a dessert pairing that amplifies the dominant flavor.

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

Is Tropic Force worth the price? Tropic Force positions as a mid-tier craft imperial IPA, and its 9.5% ABV combined with a seven-hop blend delivers significant intensity per can. Within the Voodoo Ranger family, it represents strong value for drinkers who want tropical character without sacrificing hop complexity.

Why Tropic Force?

Where many fruit-forward imperial IPAs abandon hop identity in favor of smoothie-like sweetness, Tropic Force threads a narrower path — its seven-hop blend (Mosaic, Chinook, Pahto, Galaxy, Strata, Lotus, Sabro) delivers tropical fruit aromatics that are genuinely hop-derived rather than adjunct-dependent. The oat and wheat grain bill provides the expected haze and body, but the beer finishes drier and more acidic than much of its competition, drinking closer to a tropical cocktail than a milkshake IPA. At 9.5% ABV, it carries serious weight while concealing that strength behind fruit and citrus. For drinkers who found Juice Force or Fruit Force too sweet, Tropic Force is the Voodoo Ranger imperial expression that still remembers it is a beer.