Boston Beer Begins National Distribution of Rebel Grapefruit IPA

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Hoping to capitalize on a slew of successful fruit-forward IPA introductions, Boston Beer Company this week began nationwide distribution of Samuel Adams Rebel Grapefruit IPA.

Brewed with real grapefruit and grapefruit peel, the latest Rebel line extension has a “tart, sharp character,” according to the company. In an effort to “round out bitterness from the peel” and add “sweet juiciness,” Boston Beer also adds grapefruit juice before filtering the beer.

“We experimented with dozens of test batch IPAs in our nanobrewery with different combinations of hops and grapefruit, and love this marriage of citrus and bitterness,” Seth Adams, a Samuel Adams brewer said via a press statement. “Rebel Grapefruit IPA showcases what we like most about American hops, and we’re psyched that drinkers can now enjoy this juicy IPA at home and at their favorite bar.”

Available in bottles, cans and on draft, Rebel Grapefruit IPA six-packs have a suggested retail price of $7.99 — $9.99. The new brand is also packaged in 16 oz. cans, which Boston Beer recommends selling for as much as $2.49 each.

At the same time, Boston Beer unveiled Rebel Cascade IPA, which is only available in 12 oz. cans as part of the company’s new Rebel IPA variety pack. Designed to showcase the flavor characteristic of the cascade hop, Rebel Cascade IPA is also brewed with a blend of zeus, simcoe and summer hops.

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Included in the variety pack, which retails for a suggested price of $14.99 — $17.99, are Rebel IPA, Rebel Rouser Double IPA and Rebel Grapefruit IPA offerings.

A number of products touting fruit-forward flavor characteristics have emerged in recent months, including two acclaimed releases from Sierra Nevada and New Belgium.

Sierra brewed its “Tropical IPA” with a blend of Citra, Mosaic and El Dorado hops to mimic the flavors of mango, papaya and bitter orange. New Belgium, Meanwhile, added tangerine infused orange peel to its Citradelic Tangerine IPA.

Others like Harpoon, Green Flash, Magic Hat, Victory Brewing, Schlafly, Uinta, Troegs and Heavy Seas have also recently experimented with grapefruit as well as other tropical fruits like mango, tangerine, passion fruit and blood orange.