Beer Review – Fugli

• Name: Fugli
• Brewery: Oskar Blues Brewery
• Style: IPA
• Origin: Colorado
• ABV: 5.8%

If you’ve read my previous reviews, you will know that I tend to dislike most IPA’s. More often than not, I find them to be unpleasantly bitter and thus have generally avoided them. However, it’s not possible to run a decent beer review website if you actively cut a gigantic segment of the market out.

IPAs have seen a surge of popularity in recent years, and in my recent interactions on Instagram, I saw Fugli popping up over and over. Given its popularity, I figured Fugli was one of those beers I would simply have to try.

As fate would have it, on a recent visit to San Antonio’s Flying Saucer, I found Fugli on the menu. As I assembled my flight, I knew I would have to include Fugli.

Fugli presented as a transparent, amber color with a medium head. Its aroma was slightly sweet and fruity balanced with hops.

Fugli lived up to the hype. Although I am not at all an IPA fan, I found Fugli to be very pleasant. It possesses a perfect balance between bitter and sweet, meaning that you can experience the flavor of the hops without feeling as though you’ve been punched in the face.

Each mouthful started with a solid kick of hoppy bitterness, followed by a crisp, refreshing sweetness. Having the counterbalance prevented the aftertaste from building after each mouthful, something I was very glad to experience. Typically my issue with an IPA is that, although tasty at the outset, about half way I can no longer taste anything other than hops. Oskar Blues did a wonderful job of ensuring that this wasn’t the case with Fugli.

Unfortunately, Fugli is a limited run and will only be available for a short period of time. Although I am disappointed to lose my saving grace in the world of IPA, I am encouraged to know that an enjoyable IPA (in my experience) exists.

TL;DR

Fugli embraces the traditional bitter hoppy-ness of an IPA but brings a unique twist to the table. In counteracting the traditional flavors with a slightly citrusy, sweet taste, Oskar Blues have developed a beer that can appeal to those (like me) who are not fans of the growing trend of bitterness. I highly recommend trying a Fugli while you can!

Rating: 8/10

Question of the Day

What was your favorite limited run beer and why? Let me know!

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Learn more about Fugli at its website, Untappd and Beer Advocate.