Oskar Blue's IPA 6Pk

Oskar Blues IPA 6-Pack is a 6.4% ABV American IPA sold in six 12 oz cans, brewed with hand-selected Australian hops and a red wheat malt backbone. This expression earned a 97 Overall score from Beer & Brewing Magazine and holds an 88 on BeerAdvocate across nearly 1,400 ratings.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.4%  |  IBU: 70  |  Origin: Longmont, Colorado  |  Style: American IPA  |  Brewery: Oskar Blues Brewery

Production & Heritage

Oskar Blues Brewery operates out of Longmont, Colorado and Brevard, North Carolina, and helped pioneer the craft-beer-in-a-can movement. Their IPA—described by the brewery as "A Metamodern IPA conceived of hand selected hops from down under"—uses a base of malt barley and red wheat to build a clean, understated malt backbone. The hop bill is entirely Southern Hemisphere: Enigma, Vic Secret, Ella, Topaz, and Galaxy varieties sourced from Australia, which push the beer firmly toward tropical and citrus territory rather than the piney West Coast profile many drinkers associate with Colorado IPAs.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dank and citrus-heavy on the nose, leading with grapefruit peel and a candy-like sweetness reminiscent of lemon Starburst. Behind that initial punch sits a lighter layer of resinous pine and a faint floral character from the Australian hop blend.

Taste: The entry is immediately dry, with only a restrained hint of grainy, lightly caramel malt before the hops take full control. Mid-palate delivers grapefruit rind, lemon zest, and green herbal notes, all riding on a medium body supported by the red wheat. A touch of pine resin surfaces toward the peak, reinforcing the beer's 70 IBUs without veering into harshness.

Finish: Long, dry, and persistently bitter, with grapefruit pith and resin lingering well after each sip. The wheat-driven body softens the landing just enough to invite another drink.

How to Drink Oskar Blues IPA

Pour cold—around 45°F—into a tulip glass or standard pint to let the aromatic hops open up fully. Drinking straight from the can works well given Oskar Blues' commitment to the format, but the glass makes a noticeable difference on the nose.

• IPA Shandy: Mix with fresh lemonade to amplify the existing citrus character while taming bitterness on hot days.
• Michelada: The dry, bitter profile holds up against lime, hot sauce, and Worcestershire without getting lost.
• Beer Margarita: Blend with tequila, triple sec, and lime juice—the grapefruit notes slot in naturally alongside citrus spirits.

Best For

• Stocking a cooler for a backyard cookout with hop-forward beer drinkers
• Introducing someone to Australian hop varieties in a familiar American IPA format
• Pairing with spicy or grilled foods where bitterness and carbonation cut through richness
• Building a craft beer tasting flight alongside Dale's Pale Ale to compare the Oskar Blues hop spectrum

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Oskar Blues IPA taste like? It drinks dry and hop-forward, dominated by grapefruit rind, lemon zest, and pine resin over a restrained caramel malt base, finishing with a long, lingering bitterness at 70 IBUs.

How does Oskar Blues IPA compare to Dale's Pale Ale? Both share a hop-forward, assertive character—many reviewers note Dale's Pale Ale drinks closer to an American IPA than a traditional pale ale. Oskar Blues IPA leans more heavily into tropical and citrus Australian hops, while Dale's uses a more classic American hop profile with Columbus, Centennial, and Cascade.

Is Oskar Blues IPA good for sipping on its own? Yes, the clean malt backbone and complex Australian hop bill make it a satisfying standalone pour, especially for drinkers who appreciate a dry, bitter finish rather than a sweet or juicy IPA style.

Where is Oskar Blues IPA made? Oskar Blues Brewery brews out of Longmont, Colorado and Brevard, North Carolina, with the Colorado facility serving as the original flagship location.

What foods pair well with Oskar Blues IPA? Spicy Thai curry benefits from the carbonation and bitterness cutting through heat. Grilled burgers with sharp cheddar complement the caramel malt undertones. Fish tacos with citrus slaw echo the grapefruit and lemon notes. Aged Manchego cheese matches the dry finish, and pepperoni pizza lets the hop bitterness balance the fat and salt.

What sizes does Oskar Blues IPA come in? The standard retail format is a 6-pack of 12 oz cans, consistent with Oskar Blues' identity as one of craft beer's earliest and most committed canning breweries.

Is Oskar Blues IPA worth the price? It positions as a mid-range craft IPA, and the 97 score from Beer & Brewing Magazine alongside strong BeerAdvocate ratings suggest it delivers well above its price tier, particularly given the distinctive Australian hop bill.

Why Oskar Blues IPA?

The defining move here is the all-Australian hop selection—Enigma, Vic Secret, Ella, Topaz, and Galaxy—which sets this apart from the overwhelming majority of American IPAs still anchored to domestic Citra, Mosaic, or Simcoe. That hop bill produces a flavor profile that reads as familiar but lands differently, with more tropical fruit complexity and a drier finish than most competitors at the same price point. A 97 from Beer & Brewing Magazine backs up the ambition with critical validation. For drinkers deep into the IPA category looking for something that doesn't taste like every other West Coast or hazy on the shelf, this one earns serious consideration.