Night Shift Fluffy

Fluffy is a New England-style IPA from Night Shift in Massachusetts, listed at 7% ABV and 50 IBU. The brewery's own notes name Citra, Simcoe and Idaho 7 as the hops, and describe pineapple candy, ripe nectarine and citrus peel. That hop trio points toward a juicy, tropical-leaning profile. Citra usually brings citrus and stone fruit, Simcoe adds a resinous, slightly piney edge, and Idaho 7 is known for tropical, stone-fruit character with a touch of resin. At 50 IBU the bitterness is measurable but not aggressive. In hazy New England IPAs, the perceived bitterness tends to sit lower than the number suggests because the hops go in late and the body is soft. Expect fruit-forward aroma first, then a rounded, medium-bodied palate with limited sharpness. The pineapple candy note suggests sweetness on the nose rather than in the finish, and the citrus peel should supply a faint pithy dryness at the end. At 7% the alcohol is moderate for the style and shouldn't read as hot when the beer is served properly. Serve it cold but not ice-cold, around 40 to 45°F (4 to 7°C). Straight from a very cold fridge, the hop aromatics are muted; letting the can sit for a few minutes brings the fruit forward. A tulip or a wide-mouthed IPA glass works best, since the curved bowl concentrates the aroma. A standard shaker pint is acceptable, but it gives up some of the nose. Pour with a little vigor to release the hop volatiles, and drink it fresh. Hop-driven beers like this are at their best in the weeks after packaging, and the fruit character fades with time. For food, the beer's fruitiness and low-to-moderate bitterness suit spicy dishes well. Thai green curry, Nashville hot chicken, fish tacos with mango salsa and carnitas all have enough heat or sweetness to match the hops. Sharp cheddar and washed-rind cheeses hold up to it, and so do carrot-based dishes such as roasted carrot salad with citrus dressing. Heavy, long-braised red meats tend to overwhelm a beer of this weight.