Founded in 1991 in Fort Collins, Colorado, by Kim Jordan and Jeff Lebesch, New Belgium Brewing grew from a basement operation into a leading U.S. craft brewery.
A Deeper Dive Into New Belgium:
- Founding Story: Electrical engineer Jeff Lebesch biked through Belgium in 1988, inspiring him to brew Belgian-style beers at home, while social worker Kim Jordan provided the business drive, launching the company in 1991.
- Early Days: The first batches of Fat Tire and Abbey Ale were produced in their Fort Collins basement.
- Growth & Sustainability: New Belgium was a pioneer in craft brewing sustainability, focusing on environmental stewardship and becoming a “human-powered” business, often utilizing bicycles as a brand symbol.
- Expansion: The brewery expanded with a second, highly sustainable brewery in Asheville, North Carolina, in 2016, and added another location in Daleville, VA, in 2023.
- Acquisition: New Belgium Brewing was acquired by Kirin-owned Lion Little World Beverages in 2019, but continues to operate under its original mission, later acquiring Bell’s Brewery in 2021.
- Key Products: While known for Fat Tire, the brewery’s Voodoo Ranger IPA lineup has become a top brand in the U.S.
- Other Popular New Belgium Brews: Fat Tire Belgian Style Ale, Fat Tire Belgian White, Abbey Belgian Ale, Trippel Style Belgian Ale.
About New Belgium’s Voodoo Ranger Sweet Ride Juicy IPA
- Style: Hazy IPA
- ABV: 6.5%
- IBU: 42
- Appearance: Hazy orange-gold with a thick, frothy head.
- Flavor Profile: Fruity nose containing pineapple, orange, guava and a touch of a bitter finish.
- Aroma: Pronounced notes of orange zest, tropical fruit.
- Hops: A combination of Citra, Cascade, Centennial, Simcoe, and Nugget.
- Mouthfeel: Smooth with a medium body and a medium to high carbonation level.
- Overall Impression: We liked this version of Voodoo Ranger’s Sweet Ride Juicy IPA but there are other choices if you are looking for new to recently released IPA in of this style.
Hopinionated Rating 3.25/5
Sip or Skip – Skip
Community Reviews & Comments
- zeff80: Poured a cloudy, golden orange color with a small, white head of foam. It left sudsy lacing. This beer smells and tastes incredibly sweet, to the point that it doesn’t seem like beer. I treat it like Gatorade and down it quickly after being outside in the heat.
- The Sixth Ring: Overall – An array of fruity flavors for sure, and while more crushable than many of the Voodoo Ranger offerings past and present, it still has a touch of cloying character that can get tiring after a can or so.
- Spankyrightus: Looks good, a nice thick head and decent rings of lacing up top.
The “beer” factor is a bit low. When my wife likes the taste of an IPA, it’s not really an IPA.
Although the taste isn’t unpleasant, this is more like a fruit juice cocktail. - blueshawk69: Another Voodoo Doo Doo variant with big orangey aroma; low hoppiness; a synthetic/tang-like/powdery/juicy/tangeriney flavor and a clean, quick-fading finish. It’s marinade to me, your mileage may vary.
Explore Similar Beers To Voodoo Ranger Sweet Ride Juicy IPA
- Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing IPA: Widely available, offering a, soft, hazy citrus experience.
- New Holland Tangerine Space Machine: A NE-style IPA with a heavy emphasis on citrus and creamy mouthfeel.
- Two Roads Two Juicy Hazy Double IPA: Intense tropical aroma and juicy flavor.
- Half Acre Tome Hazy IPA: A lower ABV option (5.5%) with tropical, hazy characteristics.
- Voodoo Ranger 1985 Mango IPA: A fruity, tropical alternative within the same brand family.
Have you tried Voodoo Ranger Sweet Ride Juicy IPA? If so, let us know what you think about it and we’ll include your comment in our Community Reviews and Comments section.
Send us an email at justabeerblogger@gmail.com.
Cheers!
Leave a Reply