Southern Tier Nuskool IPA 6Pk

Southern Tier Nu Skool IPA 6-Pack is an American IPA from Southern Tier Brewing Company in Lakewood, New York, at 6% ABV and 55 IBU. This hop-forward ale earned 96 points from Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine in a blind taste test judged by BJCP-certified panelists — a standout score that places it among the top-rated IPAs in its class.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6%  |  IBU: 55  |  Origin: Lakewood, New York  |  Style: American IPA  |  Brewery: Southern Tier Brewing Company  |  Format: 6-Pack

Production & Heritage

Southern Tier Brewing Company was founded in 2002 in Lakewood, New York, in the southwestern corner of the state near Chautauqua Lake. Nu Skool IPA uses 3.5 pounds of hops per barrel — a generous hopping rate that drives its intense aromatic profile. The brewing process involves loading a hopback to the brim with Mosaic hops for tropical fruit character, followed by two separate dry-hop additions: a large charge of Mosaic fired through the brewery's hop cannon, then Simcoe and Equinox added two days later. Experimental Hop #07270 rounds out the bill. The beer was explicitly designed as a contrast to Southern Tier's longstanding, more English-inspired IPA, leaning into new-generation American hop varieties rather than Old World bittering traditions.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe grapefruit and mango lead the nose, followed by wet moss, pine resin, and light orange pith. A clean malty sweetness sits underneath, letting the hop aromatics take center stage.

Taste: The entry is juicy with tropical fruit — mango and passion fruit — giving way to a mid-palate of grainy malt and moderate hop bitterness. Pine and resin emerge as it develops, with a mild sweetness that counterbalances the hops without turning cloying. At 55 IBU the bitterness is present but controlled, keeping the beer highly drinkable.

Finish: Dry and clean with lingering pine and citrus pith. The finish doesn't overstay, which contributes to the beer's reputation as a crushable, session-friendly IPA despite its 6% ABV.

How to Drink Nu Skool IPA

Best served cold, around 45–50°F, in a tulip glass or standard pint to capture the aromatic hop oils. Pouring from the can releases the full range of tropical and pine notes that define this beer. While Nu Skool works best on its own, it also holds up in beer-based cocktails: a Michelada benefits from its citrus-forward hops against hot sauce and lime; a Beer Margarita (blended with tequila and lime juice) pairs naturally with its tropical fruit character; and a Shandy made with fresh lemonade tempers the bitterness into a refreshing warm-weather drink.

Best For

• IPA enthusiasts exploring new-school hop profiles beyond West Coast classics
• Backyard cookouts and grilling sessions where a hop-forward, crushable beer fits the mood
• Introducing craft beer drinkers to the tropical side of American IPAs
• Building a tasting flight alongside Southern Tier's English-style IPA to compare old school versus new school approaches

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Nu Skool IPA taste like? Nu Skool IPA leads with juicy tropical fruit — mango, passion fruit, and grapefruit — balanced by pine resin, moderate hop bitterness at 55 IBU, and a clean, dry finish.

How does Nu Skool IPA compare to Southern Tier's original IPA? Southern Tier designed Nu Skool specifically as a contrast to their traditional English-inspired IPA; where the original leans on earthy, balanced English hop character, Nu Skool pushes tropical fruit, citrus, and pine from American new-school varieties like Mosaic and Simcoe. The result is a more aromatic, fruit-forward beer at a similar ABV.

Is Nu Skool IPA good for IPA beginners? Yes — its 6% ABV, moderate 55 IBU, and juicy tropical fruit profile make it approachable without sacrificing hop complexity, and reviewers consistently describe it as crushable and easy to drink.

Where is Nu Skool IPA made? Nu Skool IPA is brewed by Southern Tier Brewing Company in Lakewood, New York, a small town in Chautauqua County in the southwestern part of the state.

What foods pair well with Nu Skool IPA? Grilled chicken or fish tacos work well, as the citrus hops mirror fresh lime and salsa. Spicy Thai curry benefits from the beer's malty sweetness cutting through heat. Sharp cheddar or pepper jack cheese contrasts the tropical fruit notes. Burgers with caramelized onions complement the clean malt backbone, and citrus-dressed salads echo the grapefruit and orange pith in the aroma.

What sizes does Nu Skool IPA come in? Nu Skool IPA is commonly available in a 6-pack of 12 oz cans, which is the standard retail format.

Is Nu Skool IPA worth the price? Nu Skool positions as a mid-range craft IPA, and its 96-point score from Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine suggests it punches above its weight compared to many competitors at the same price tier.

Why Nu Skool IPA?

The 96-point rating from Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine, awarded through a blind BJCP-judged evaluation, puts Nu Skool IPA in rare company for a widely distributed American IPA. The aggressive hopping rate of 3.5 pounds per barrel, combined with a multi-stage dry-hop process using Mosaic, Simcoe, Equinox, and Experimental Hop #07270, creates a layered tropical and resinous profile that goes well beyond a single-note citrus bomb. It drinks lighter and cleaner than its hop load suggests, finishing dry rather than sweet — a balance that keeps it sessionable at 6% ABV. For drinkers who want serious hop character without palate fatigue, Nu Skool delivers a compelling case.