Green Cheek Beer Co. is known for hazy IPAs…like their Sleepin’ In, which we have for you today.
Green Cheek Beer Co. was founded in Orange, California back in 2017. They have become quite a popular brewery down in SoCal, opening up three additional locations – Costa Mesa, Oceanside, and Sunset Beach – to go with their OG place in Orange.
I haven’t had anything from them yet (until today) and, even though they make all styles of beer, they are well known for their hazy IPAs. So, naturally, I had to try one of their hazies.
I found myself a four-pack of their Sleepin’ In, a New England-style IPA brewed with Citra, Mosaic, and Strata hops. The pack of 16-ounce cans cost about $16 and each pint has a nice 7.2% ABV.
Sleepin’ In poured a bright straw color with plenty of haze to it. There was a full two fingers of dense, eggshell white head that initially blocked my access to the beer. Over the next few minutes, the foam made its way down to a small accumulation around the edge of the beer and a thicker clump resting in the center. There was some moderate lacing, with a few strands of bubbles clinging to the sides of the glass here and there.
The aroma was fruity and subtle and actually had quite a bit of grist showing. The flaked wheat and oats were easily identifiable but, underneath, there were juicier characteristics of berries (strawberry mostly), guava, papaya, and even a dash of kumquat. And there was an aspect of it that told me it might be a creamier, heavier beer. It just smelled dense.
My first sip was spot on. It was quite pillowy soft and rather creamy. However, it did not sit too heavy at all and went down rather easily.
The flavors, like the aroma, were rather subdued. The berries hit first, with some big strawberry and blueberry flavors, and a bit of honeydew melon following closely behind. The tropical fruits – guava and papaya – and that kumquat add some juiciness and sweetness to the brew but sit underneath the berries throughout the tasting.
After a few seconds, the hops add a slightly bitter twinge and some citrus rind pithiness that brings tangerine and grapefruit qualities to the taste. The grapefruit peel flavor doesn’t last too long, just a small spike midway through that fades almost as quickly as it appears.
With the flavors being so subtle, the beer ends rather quickly and insanely clean. There is a small sticky resinous feeling that leads to some dryness but it’s not bad at all.
After each swig I was immediately ready to take my next sip. It’s so easy to drink. It might have a soft mouthfeel but it drinks super light. It’s a very dangerous beer. Super light and drinkable, super tasty yet subtle flavors, and an above average ABV. The triple threat.
I try to drink the beer over a half hour or so, just to see if the flavors change or anything but…this was so easy to drink that my glass was accidentally empty after nine minutes. Luckily I had three more in the fridge.
It’s a very good hazy IPA. It’s light, it’s flavorful, it’s crushable. Snag some while you can.
