Beer of the Moment: Beachwood Habanero Invasive Species

Beachwood BBQ & Brewing recently released an Invasive Species collection, which includes an IPA, grapefruit-flavored IPA, habanero IPA, and mango IPA. If that pattern strikes you as a bit familiar, you’re not mistaken. As indicated in the press release accompanying the four IPAs, which were released in four-packs on March 21 following a late 2016 debut, the line’s “a not so subtle, but definitely tongue-in-cheek reference, to a series of beers brewed by our ‘neighbors’ down the road who recently were acquired by a big beer corporation.” Though a lot of these market conflicts stay hidden, we’re seeing more and more bubble to the surface.

Which makes now as good a time as any for a beer. Of the four, the Habanero’s our Beer of the Moment pick by a sizable margin—expressing fresh, exhilarating peppery heat that syncs perfectly with how the hops land in these beers (all of which are IPA-based and 7.1%). Bell pepper and grapefruit-led citrus meet with well-integrated pine throughout, and the CO₂ and lean core sweetness contribute to an overall feel of lingering spicy warmth that lasts just long enough. The other three, purposefully, seem aimed squarely at those competing beers.

The assortment is currently packaged in four-packs, with one of each. Tangentially: If you’re looking for your next beer read, learn how Ballast Point Brewing Co., which recently opened a location in Long Beach, went from a homebrew supply shop to a billion-dollar company.

About Beer of the Moment:

All About Beer Magazine’s Beer of the Moment series aims to find that compass heading in the endless sea of new beers. Whether classic or the current cutting edge, these are fresh releases that inspire, that challenge, that stand for something. They’re why we’re All About Beer.

Think you’ve got something good that might fit the bill for Beer of the Moment? Get in touch via @allaboutbeer on Twitter or Instagram, or email us at [email protected]

Ken Weaver is the beer editor of All About Beer Magazine

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