Nestled in the Texas Hill Country, you will find one of Texas’ most glorious beer facilities. Based out of Blanco, Real Ale have been brewing amazing beers for nearly a quarter century.
If you’re looking to experience Real Ale for the first time, their IPA Sampler Pack is a great place to start. A nice combination of styles, there really is something for everyone:
- Lost Gold IPA – clear and crisp
- Fresh Kicks Hazy IPA – smooth and hoppy
- Axis IPA – West Coast-style and piney
- Squirt Gun Juicy IPA – juicy and mild
Without further ado, let’s check out these four epic beers.
Lost Gold IPA
- ABV: 6.6%
- IBU: 62
It had been some time since I last checked out Real Ale’s Lost Gold IPA.
Pouring a clear golden color, and building a thin, foamy head that quickly dissipates, Lost Gold offers a malty aroma with a touch of hoppy heat. It’s thin-bodied, but quite liberally hopped. With a slight dryness and a hint of sweetness, it creates a great canvas for the hop to shine through.
Lost Gold is a strong choice for a hot climate. Thin and easy to drink, it’s refreshing and can break the heat without bloating. Despite a quite thin body, it does not skimp on flavor. It’s somewhat of a jack of all trades, and a solid choice for a daily drinking IPA.
Recent: Beer Review – National IPA Day
Fresh Kicks Hazy IPA
- ABV: 6.6%
- IBU: 40
Real Ale’s entry in the hazy IPA market, fresh kicks looks the part but drinks a bit differently.
Pouring a light-orange color and showing opaque, Fresh Kicks builds a smooth head and gives off a sweet, citrusy aroma. Mid-bodied and smooth, the toned down IBU translates to an easy drinking brew. While leading with a mellow citrus, a reasonable hoppy punch on the back end rounds out the experience. A mild hoppy bitterness retains in the aftertaste, developing to a nice mix of mellow and bitey.
If you like your beer hazy, and appreciate a hoppy presence in your brew, Fresh Kicks is a solid choice. It’s an easy drinker, but not entirely submissive. This one is very much worth checking out.
Axis IPA
- ABV: 7.1%
- IBU: 70
A very Texan motif on a can of tremendously crushable beer. What’s not to love?
Axis IPA pours a translucent, dark straw color and builds a solid head that recedes quickly but laces well. A mild aroma with hints of hops and boozy heat greets your nose. Mid-bodied and flavorful, Axis is packed with hoppy goodness. Each mouthful opens mild, quickly builds to a hoppy crescendo, and retreats quite a bit, with a low level hoppy bitter build in the aftertaste. It creates a rollercoaster of hoppy flavor with quick accelerations and speedy drops.
Axis is one of those beers that keeps your tastebuds on their toes. With that in mind, it’s highly drinkable for 7.1% ABV. The 70IBU creates a powerful, but manageable, hoppy bitterness. This is an absolute must try if you get the chance.
Recent: Beer Review – Alpha Abstraction DIPA Vol. 13
Squirt Gun Juicy IPA
- ABV: 6.0%
- IBU: 40
Billed as Real Ale’s Juicy IPA (a little confusing vs. the Fresh Kicks Hazy IPA on face value), Squirt Gun offers more of the citrusy flavors you would expect from the style.
Pouring an opaque, juicy, orange color and building a solid head, Squirt Gun gives off a very citrusy aroma. Mid-bodied, smooth and mild, it has a very citrusy flavor that’s balanced with a touch of hops. Low in IBU, there’s no significant hoppy retention, but a mild citrusy bitterness persists.
This is the smoothest and easiest to drink of a mixed pack full of very crushable beers. I think the experience is a testament to the pervasive quality of Real Ale Brewing Co’s beer overall.
Conclusion
Widely available throughout the Lone Star State, Real Ale has developed a solid reputation for quality beer. While their portfolio runs the gamut of craft beer, this IPA Sampler Pack is a great starting point for those who like things hoppy, or a seasoned veteran who wants to kick back with some tasty news. You really can’t go wrong with this lineup of tasty beers.
What are you drinking today? Let me know in the comments or connect with me on Instagram or Facebook! Until next time, happy drinking!
Sgt. Suds 
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