Review: Shred Beer Co. – Cloud Nectar (Hazy IPA)
Let’s face it, the “Hazy IPA” landscape is a dense fog. Every brewery has one, and distinguishing the good from the merely mediocre can be a hazy endeavor in itself. But Shred Beer Co. has managed to pierce the mist with Cloud Nectar, a hazy IPA that stands out by focusing on texture, balance, and—crucially—a superb finish.
This is a beer that is explicitly described as “rotating by batch,” but typically features what the industry calls “heavy hitters” (read: maximum cost and minimum yield hops) like Citra, Mosaic, and Galaxy. For this review, we are sampling a batch that leads with Citra and Galaxy, a combination that typically promises maximal tropical intensity.
Appearance
On a pour, Cloud Nectar is everything you want in a modern Hazy. It’s a beautifully opaque, pale straw gold. It looks thick and substantial in the glass, with a persistent, velvety white head that provides a textbook example of “lacing” as you drink. The clarity is zero, but the brightness is high, making it visually striking.
Aroma
The aromatics are immediate and pungent. The Galaxy hops dominate out of the gate with intense, pungent notes of passion fruit and ripe papaya. This is immediately supported by the Citra, providing bright, sweet citrus—think fresh-squeezed tangerine and candied orange peel. Secondary notes of white grape, dried apricots, and a surprising, sophisticated layer of stone fruit (peach/apricot) give it substantial depth. It’s a tropical fruit salad in the best possible way.
Flavor Profile
The key is balance. Cloud Nectar doesn’t just hit you with a juice mallet. The initial flavor is that of soft, pillowy malt—think flaked oats and wheat—creating a creamy, substantial mouthfeel. This provides a clean, dry foundation that prevents the massive fruit profile from being overwhelming.
The hops are, of course, the main event, hitting you mid-palette with a luscious tropical character of overripe mango, passion fruit, and bright citrus. But again, it’s not just sweetness. There is a clean, lingering piney character and a hint of a unique, delicate floral-resin note that suggests the Galaxy, providing a much-needed dry counterpoint and anchoring the finish.
For a 7.2% ABV beer, this is dangerous. There is almost zero perceived alcohol heat. The finish is remarkably dry, a standard requirement for the style that seems to be forgotten by many modern brewers. There is a clean, lingering piney character, but it’s refined, not heavy. The bitterness is assertive, but it doesn’t have the harsh, vegetal “hop burn” that can mar some overly-hopped beers.
Mouthfeel and Finish
This is where the magic really happens. Cloud Nectar is incredibly soft and silky. Despite its substantive appearance and medium-heavy body, it finishes incredibly dry with a gentle, lingering bitterness that wipes the palate clean and invites another sip. The fine carbonation provides a satisfying, effervescent scrubbing action that prevents the creamy mouthfeel from becoming heavy.
Shred Beer Co. has not reinvented the wheel with Cloud Nectar, but they have built a better wheel. It has the pure, simple drinkability of a great German pilsner but has the nuanced, interesting hop complexity of a small-batch IPA. It’s an incredibly easy beer to drink, but it will also be appreciated by hopheads looking for a crisp alternative to a heavy, sweet hazy IPA. This is a brilliant summer beer, perfect for a BBQ or just relaxing after work. It’s an exceptionally crafted, dry, and balanced beer that delivers on both hype and heritage.
If you want a masterclass in the modern Hazy IPA style, this is the beer to drink.