A Wackadoodledoo to You! Wackadoo Brewing's Juicy IPA

What does “Wackadoo” mean? Well, it all started in the Bronze Age when metal replaced sticks for wacking...or is that whacking? Well, the spelling has changed a bit, but believe me, it’s the same type of whacking. And what’s a Doo? It’s a type of obstinent bird, of course. Hence, “Wackadoo”.

Wackadoo is a relatively new brewery in town and tucked away on Centennial, near the intersection with 30th (the same road that Garden of the Gods is on, but in the other direction). They have a load of beers on tap, which is impressive for a new place.

The Juicy IPA is a good use of fruity hops—I’m thinking citra, centennial (which is more flowery than fruity), and three more that I can’t identify. The menu says that it has five types of hops, but I’m not good enough to identify all of them just by taste…maybe someday. It’s got a nice body with a little bit of a bready taste. It’s got a big bitter bite all of the way through, which is interesting because the menu description says it’s ‘non-bitter’. If you peeled a grapefruit and ate a slice, that’s the bitterness you’ll get from this beer. If you’re a fan of IPAs based on bitterness and some citrus flavor, then this would be a good beer to try out. Although I can chew on the body a bit, it’s still a little light. Slightly more malt sweetness and this would make it that much better.

Although not a hazy, it’s got a hazy character (more of an unfiltered quality). Since hazy IPAs are my nemesis, I’m happy that this Juicy IPA has none of the taste characteristics of that abomination of a beer style.

I liked this beer, but I probably won’t be running back to Wackadoo to get another. I look forward to trying the other types of beers on tap, however, to include a version of Smiling Toad Brewery’s IP Freely IPA. That brewery is now closed (with South Park Brewing in its place), but Biff’s beer will live on at Wackadoo. Don’t know who Biff is? Well, he’s an IPA genius, and proof that not all heroes wear capes. Ask the head brewer at Wackadoo and I bet he’d be happy to explain.