It’s a truism these days that every craft brewery should have an IPA (usually more than one), so much so that it’s notable when a brewery doesn’t offer one. The trick, of course, is that since there are so many IPAs available, they really need to be brewed well to stand out. I’m happy to report that two of the latest IPAs from Pelican Brewing meet this criteria, and excel: Updrift IPA and Cape Crasher IPA.

The brewery had sent me samples of each of these beers in recent months, both of which are new to the year-round lineup. I don’t know if these were already in the works for year-round beers, or if COVID-19 has caused Pelican to pivot to more packaged offerings for at-home consumption, but the brewery is currently up to 13 core/year-round packaged brews with these two in the mix.

(Six of those, incidentally, are IPAs.)

Let’s go to my review notes.

Updrift IPA

Updrift launched in summer amid a new marketing campaign that I detailed here when I received the samples. It’s positioned as an “adventure companion” beer perfect for the Oregon Coast, and as such is available in cans for that outdoor lifestyle. The brewery’s description says:

Drifting against the current, Updrift moves against the grain of predictable flavor, bringing a bright clean hop aroma chock full of tropical, stone fruit and zesty citrus. Underpinned by a foundation of toasty malt, the punchy assertive hops rise upward in a crescendo of flavor, leading to a clean hoppy finish. Atop the dune, the trail or after catching the big wave, bring Updrift on your next adventure and ascend the crest of hop character!

It’s 7.1% ABV with 70 IBUs, brewed with Magnum, Galaxy, Citra, and El Dorado hops.

Appearance: Lightly hazy golden color, dense whipped egg white consistency to an off-white head.

Smell: Nice aromatics of pineapple and papaya (whole fruit, not sliced), stone fruit, herbal lemongrass, a touch of danky allium, a touch of citrus oil, and an overall nice, slightly overripe fruitiness.

Taste: Complex interplay of hop flavors, a cotton candy sweetness, herbal bitterness, and lusciously toasty malt. Minty-bitter hops are savory and attractive, drawing you in to keep sipping and there’s a green fruit character that’s sweet and plays well with the rich malts. Just the right level of bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with a rich finish and a lingering herbal, minty hop bitterness that’s pleasantly satisfying.

Overall: Solid, enjoyable, well balanced all around. I’m really enjoying it.

Cape Crasher IPA

This is Pelican’s new “Pacific Northwest IPA” which is essentially a solid, piney, west coast IPA. I’d received samples at the beginning of fall, bottles for this one, and one thing I noted on the bottles is the new embossed necks featuring the Pacific City coastal scene with Haystack Rock. It’s a nice touch. The description reads:

While we give a lot of credit to sunshine on the coast, the true Pacific Northwesterners appreciate a good storm. Crashing waves and bold IPA truly bring out the best in each other. With a pronounced hop flavor of tangerine, citrus zest and sweet pine swirling over a malty foundation, Cape Crasher brings robust flavors crashing across the palate. Inspired by the pounding waves that crest our iconic Cape Kiwanda, Cape Crasher delivers powerful waves of flavor. Join us and raise a glass to the next storm that Mother Nature – or life itself – throws at you, wherever you may be.

Brewed with Idaho 7, Centennial, Mandarina Bavaria, and Magnum hops, Cape Crasher is 6.8% ABV and 60 IBUs.

Appearance: Deep copper to amber in color, honey highlights when held to the light. Dense and fine, thick head is off-white.

Smell: Vibrantly hoppy with piney, citrusy, and earthy hops; forest floor with a grapefruit peel twist. Rich underlying malts that boost the fruity character of the hops.

Taste: Solid hop bitterness that’s full of big pine and evergreen notes, with a toasty rich malt that hints at sweetness but is crisp and dry. Hop flavor goes a touch spicy with more earthiness as it warms. Just a tasty play of malt with clean, bitter yet green and earthy hops.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, cleanly bitter at the end, with a good, dry lip-smacking finish.

Overall: A winner, and I really like the old school bitterness that comes out of this.

If you love IPAs then you won’t go wrong with either of these beers. They would be excellent additions to your pandemic beer fridge if you’re stocking up for the coming “freeze.”