Stoneface Caddie

Caddie is a 4.9% ABV IPA from Stoneface in New Hampshire, built to sit at the lighter, more sessionable end of the style. At 42 IBU, the bitterness lands in the moderate range: enough to register as a proper IPA, but well short of the resinous bite found in double IPAs. Expect the hop character to lean toward citrus and tropical fruit, with a crisp finish that keeps the beer from feeling heavy. Because the alcohol is modest and the malt backbone is typically restrained in beers of this strength, the hops do most of the talking. Styles like this usually pour a clear to lightly hazy gold, with grapefruit, orange peel or pineapple-style aromatics up front and a dry, slightly bitter close. The lower ABV means you can drink more than one over an afternoon without palate fatigue, which is the point of a session-strength IPA. Serve it cold but not frozen, around 40 to 45°F. Fridge-cold dulls hop aroma, so let a can sit out for a few minutes before pouring. A standard pint glass or a tulip-style IPA glass works well; the tulip's narrowed rim concentrates the citrus and tropical aromatics, while a shaker pint is fine for casual drinking. Pour it into the glass rather than drinking from the can, since the aroma is a large part of what an IPA offers. For food, the bitterness and citrus lean make it a natural match for grilled chicken, fish tacos, burgers and sausages, where the hops cut through fat and char. It also handles mildly spicy dishes such as buffalo wings or jerk-seasoned meats, and the crisp finish works against fried food like fish and chips. Sharp cheddar and tangy goat cheese are good cheese-board partners.