Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing 6Pk

Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing 6Pk is an unfiltered hazy IPA from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, packaged as a six-pack of 12 oz cans at 6.7% ABV. Ranked as America's top-selling hazy IPA and the #3 craft beer brand in the United States by Nielsen in 2024, it holds an 89/100 score on Beer Advocate.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.7%  |  Origin: Chico, California  |  Style: Hazy / New England-Style IPA  |  Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, founded in 1980 by Ken Grossman in Chico, California, helped define American craft brewing with its flagship Pale Ale. Hazy Little Thing is brewed with a grain bill of two-row pale malt, Munich malt, oats, and wheat — using both malted and unmalted varieties engineered for precise protein content, beta-glucan levels, and diastatic power. The hop bill layers Citra, Simcoe, Mosaic, El Dorado, Comet, and Magnum hops alongside colossal amounts of lupulin hop dust — concentrated pure flavor extracted from inside hop cones — then goes unfiltered and unprocessed straight from the tanks into the can.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Bright citrus leads, dominated by fresh orange peel and tangerine. Behind that, ripe tropical fruit — pineapple and mango — mingles with a subtle herbal, tea-like quality from the layered hop additions.

Taste: The entry is soft and semi-sweet with a silky malt body cushioning waves of juicy orange, tangerine, and tropical fruit. Mid-palate, white peach and pineapple push through, balanced by a restrained bitterness that keeps the fruit character from becoming cloying. The mouthfeel is full and velvety without feeling heavy or filling.

Finish: Moderate in length, with dry citrus hop bitterness and gentle pine emerging as the sweetness fades. A pleasant tea-like note lingers alongside residual tropical fruit.

How to Drink Hazy Little Thing

Pour into a tulip glass or standard pint to release the full aromatic profile; drinking straight from the can works but mutes some of the hop complexity. Serve cold, around 40–45°F.

• Beer Shandy: The natural citrus and tropical character pairs naturally with fresh lemonade for a sessionable warm-weather drink.
• Michelada: The silky body and fruit-forward hops stand up well to lime, hot sauce, and Worcestershire, adding a tropical twist to the classic.
• IPA Float: Pair with vanilla ice cream — the creamy malt body and orange-forward hops create a surprisingly balanced dessert serve.

Best For

• Introducing someone to the hazy IPA style without an aggressive bitterness barrier
• Backyard barbecues and casual outdoor gatherings
• Building a craft beer variety pack as a reliable crowd-pleaser
• Pairing with takeout tacos, pizza, or grilled fare on a weeknight

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Hazy Little Thing taste like? Hazy Little Thing delivers juicy orange, tangerine, pineapple, and mango flavors supported by a silky, full malt body with modest bitterness and a dry citrus-hop finish.

How does Hazy Little Thing compare to Firestone Walker Mind Haze? Both are widely available hazy IPAs at similar ABVs, but Hazy Little Thing leans more toward bright citrus and orange-forward fruit, while Mind Haze tends to emphasize tropical and stone fruit with a slightly more pronounced hop bitterness.

Is Hazy Little Thing good for beginners? Yes — its low bitterness, approachable fruit-forward flavor, and smooth mouthfeel make it one of the most accessible entry points into the hazy IPA category.

Where is Hazy Little Thing made? Hazy Little Thing is brewed by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, headquartered in Chico, California, with additional brewing operations at the company's second facility in Mills River, North Carolina.

What foods pair well with Hazy Little Thing? Fish tacos benefit from the citrus hop brightness; grilled chicken or pork complement the malt sweetness; spicy Thai food is tempered by the beer's silky body; a charcuterie board with mild cheeses and stone fruit echoes the tropical notes; and a classic burger matches the beer's easygoing character.

What sizes does Hazy Little Thing come in? Hazy Little Thing is commonly available in 6-packs and 12-packs of 12 oz cans, as well as single 19.2 oz stovepipe cans.

Is Hazy Little Thing worth the price? Hazy Little Thing positions as an everyday craft IPA — priced competitively within the mainstream hazy IPA segment while delivering a level of hop complexity and drinkability that justifies its standing as America's best-selling beer in the style.

Why Hazy Little Thing?

What separates Hazy Little Thing from the crowded hazy IPA field is Sierra Nevada's use of concentrated lupulin hop dust layered across six hop varieties, producing intense tropical and citrus flavor without harsh bitterness. The precise engineering of the oat and wheat grain bill — down to protein and beta-glucan specifications — creates its signature velvety texture. Scoring 89/100 on Beer Advocate and ranking as the top-selling hazy IPA in the country by Nielsen data, it has earned its reputation through consistency and scale that few craft brewers can match. For a style often dominated by limited-release local offerings, Hazy Little Thing proves that wide availability and quality are not mutually exclusive.