Glassware: Wolf Pup has a strong fruit-forward hop aroma that is drool-inducing. Glassware that traps this phenomenal aroma is a must! The Spiegelau IPA glass, as always, is the first choice for any hop-forward beer. The tapered opening and thin walls are perfect for Wolf Pup. If this is not an option, a Willi Becher pub glass will suffice. It should also be noted that this is a great beer to enjoy straight from the can while sitting snugly inside your favorite beer koozie.
Description: Wolf Pup pours a slightly hazy pale golden-yellow with a bright white frothy head that leaves a small trace of lacing on the glass. The aroma is hop-forward with a strong hit of citrus and tropical fruits backed by light cracker-like malt.
The taste follows the nose with fruit flavors on full display. Grapefruit, papaya, oranges, passion fruit, mango, tangerines, and even slight touches of pineapple open on the palate immediately with very little bittering qualities. The slightly sweet bready malts provide perfect balance and enable the juicy qualities of this incredible session IPA to shine bright.
The light body and moderate carbonation impart a crisp and refreshing attribute to the beer making it great for a hot summer day. Golden Road has created a truly world-class session IPA with Wolf Pup. The juicy qualities cannot be overstated and lead to an off-the-charts drinkability factor. Any fan of juicy IPAs and hops in general absolutely must seek out Wolf Pup!
Food pairing: Lighter beers such as session IPAs can be difficult to pair with dishes due to their delicate nature. Session IPAs tend to have a thinner body that can easily be overwhelmed by many of dishes. However, Wolf Pup has a strong enough flavor profile that it not only stands up to most dishes but also makes a strong impact upon them.
Wolf Pup is a great pairing with many spicy Mexican dishes. The strong fruit-hop profile lightens and deepens the flavor profile of even the spiciest of dishes while the crisp malt backbone keeps all spices in check and cleanses the palate perfectly. Any backyard barbecue is made better with this session IPA. The sweet barbecue sauce and natural caramelization from the grill will be enhanced by the sweet malt profile and fruity hops.
Wolf Pup also goes well with any barbecue sauce style, so whether your loyal to thick Kansas City style of prefer a thinner mustard-based barbecue sauce, it will be the perfect fit. The citrus and tropical fruit notes add a flavor depth to meat dishes that is rarely achieved and is a surprisingly delicious match. As with all IPAs, or beer for that matter, this is a fantastic beer for Friday night get-togethers with friends, movies, and pizza piled high with any topping your heart desires. The low ABV also makes for a great repeat beer throughout the night without fear of checking out too early.
The Final Word: Golden Road Brewing is a relative newcomer to the NEPA craft beer landscape, but they are certainly not unknown. The Los Angeles-based brewery had built a strong reputation on their West Coast style hop-forward ales. This reputation garnered a loyal following and caused beer lovers to flock to the brewery in droves. They have begun branching out into new territories, and Wolf Pup is one of their lead beers in new markets. Thankfully they have landed in NEPA with this world-class session IPA.
While session IPAs are plentiful, full-flavored ones are sadly lacking. However, Wolf Pup is certainly full flavored and hop forward, which may quickly make it your new favorite IPA. The crisp and juicy qualities of Wolf Pup are second to none and constitute a rare feat that few sessionable beers achieve. If you fancy yourself a hop lover, get your hands on this beer now, but buy in bulk, because you will want more than just a six pack. Another great feature of Wolf Pup is the availability in tall boy cans, a favorite serving vessel for true beer lovers!
