Samuel Adams Wicked Hazy 12Pk

Samuel Adams Wicked Hazy 12Pk is a 12-pack of unfiltered New England-style hazy IPA cans brewed at 6.8% ABV. Built on a five-hop blend of Galaxy, Simcoe, Mosaic, Citra, and Cascade, this beer delivers intense tropical fruit character balanced by a grain bill of barley, oats, and wheat that keeps the body smooth and the bitterness restrained at just 35 IBU.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.8%  |  Origin: Boston, MA / Cincinnati, OH / Lehigh Valley, PA  |  Style: Hazy IPA  |  Brewery: Samuel Adams (Boston Beer Company)

Production & Heritage

Samuel Adams is the flagship brand of Boston Beer Company, founded in 1984 by Jim Koch in Boston, Massachusetts. Wicked Hazy is brewed across the company's facilities in Boston, Cincinnati, and Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. The beer is left unfiltered — a hallmark of the New England IPA style — which preserves suspended proteins and hop oils responsible for the signature haze and amplified fruited hop aroma. The grain bill leans heavily on oats and wheat alongside barley, creating a pillowy mouthfeel that carries the massive tropical hop load without harsh bitterness. Five hop varieties — Galaxy from Australia, plus American-grown Simcoe, Mosaic, Citra, and Cascade — are layered throughout the brew to maximize juicy fruit expression.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: A burst of fresh tropical fruit hits immediately — ripe mango and pineapple lead, followed by orange zest and a subtle guava sweetness. The unfiltered haze contributes a soft, almost creamy hop perfume beneath the fruit.

Taste: The entry is juicy and fruit-forward, with orange and pineapple dominating the front palate. At mid-palate, melon and guava emerge alongside a gentle grain sweetness from the oat and wheat base. Bitterness stays low and well-integrated, never overtaking the fruit character.

Finish: Medium in length with a dry-ish close that cleans the palate without lingering resinous bite. A faint citrus zest impression remains, inviting another sip.

How to Drink Wicked Hazy

Pour into a tulip glass or wide-mouth pint glass at 40–45°F to fully release the hop aromatics; drinking straight from the can will mute the tropical nose this beer is designed to showcase. Wicked Hazy works well in a Michelada, where the citrus and tropical notes complement lime juice and hot sauce. It's also a strong base for a Beer-garita (beer margarita), adding body and fruit complexity to the tequila-lime mix. For a simpler approach, try a Shandy — blend it half-and-half with fresh lemonade for a refreshing warm-weather drink.

Best For

• Backyard barbecues and outdoor grilling sessions
• Stocking the fridge for game-day gatherings
• Introducing a friend to the hazy IPA style
• Casual weeknight unwinding after work

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Wicked Hazy taste like? Wicked Hazy delivers prominent juicy tropical fruit flavors — pineapple, mango, orange, and guava — carried on a smooth, medium body with very low bitterness and a clean, dry-ish finish.

How does Wicked Hazy compare to Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing? Both are widely available hazy IPAs, but Wicked Hazy comes in slightly higher at 6.8% ABV versus Hazy Little Thing's 6.7% and uses a five-hop blend that leans more tropical, while Hazy Little Thing tends toward more citrus-forward, slightly bitter character. Some reviewers consider them close rivals as everyday hazy IPA choices.

Is Wicked Hazy good for someone new to hazy IPAs? Yes — its low 35 IBU bitterness and prominent fruit-juice character make it one of the more approachable hazy IPAs on the market, a solid entry point for drinkers transitioning from lighter styles.

Where is Wicked Hazy made? Wicked Hazy is brewed by Boston Beer Company, the parent company of Samuel Adams, across their brewing facilities in Boston, Massachusetts; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania.

What foods pair well with Wicked Hazy? Grilled shrimp tacos match the beer's citrus notes; a pulled pork sandwich benefits from the fruit-forward hops cutting through richness; spicy Thai green curry is tempered by the smooth oat body; a classic cheeseburger finds balance with the dry finish; and fresh ceviche echoes the beer's tropical fruit and citrus profile.

What sizes does Wicked Hazy come in? The standard format is a 12-pack of 12-ounce cans; Samuel Adams also distributes Wicked Hazy in 6-packs and 19.2-ounce single-serve cans in many markets.

Is Wicked Hazy worth the price? Wicked Hazy positions as a mainstream-premium hazy IPA, priced competitively with other national craft brands in the category — it delivers hop complexity and a smooth body that punch above typical mass-market IPAs.

Why Wicked Hazy?

The five-hop blend of Galaxy, Simcoe, Mosaic, Citra, and Cascade gives Wicked Hazy a layered tropical profile that many single- or dual-hop hazy IPAs cannot match at this price tier. The oat-and-wheat-heavy grain bill produces a genuinely smooth mouthfeel, not just marketing shorthand — the low 35 IBU reading confirms that bitterness takes a back seat to fruit. With a 3.7 rating on Untappd across more than 62,000 reviews, the beer has established broad consumer approval as a reliable, everyday hazy IPA. For drinkers who want full New England-style juice and haze from a nationally distributed brand, the 12-pack format makes it a practical choice to keep on hand.