As one of the early pioneers in non-alcoholic craft beers, Brooklyn Brewery is known for their Special Effects line of non-alcoholic beers. In this Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects IPA review, we share our tasting notes so that you can decide if this is the right non-alcoholic IPA for you!
What is Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects IPA?
Special Effects IPA is a non-alcoholic IPA from Brooklyn’s Brooklyn Brewery. It is brewed like a classic West Coast IPA beer that promises lots of hoppy aroma and flavors.
Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects IPA was released in 2020 following the success of their first non-alcoholic beer, Special Effects Hoppy Amber (check out our review of Hoppy Amber here).
The line of non-alcoholic beers is named “Special Effects” because the name signifies that these brews taste just like regular beer, even without the alcohol.
Recommended Beer Glass: Enhance your IPA experience with the Spiegelau Craft IPA Glass. It has a tapered base that gently expands and then narrows toward the rim. This particular design helps to accentuate the hop aromas found in an IPA.
Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects IPA Ingredients
Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects IPA is made from water, barley malt, wheat, malted oats, hops, and yeast.
Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects IPA Calories
A 330mL bottle of Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects IPA contains 79.2 calories and 16.5 grams of carbohydrates, of which 11.88 grams are sugar.
| Avg Quantity Per Serving (330ml) | |
|---|---|
| Calories | 79.2 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 16.5g |
| Protein | 1.98g |
| Fat | 0g |
Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects IPA Review
Looks & Aroma
The beer pours a hazy straw-yellow color, thin foam head with poor retention, and lots of lively bubbles.
On the nose, we can smell juicy, hoppy notes of tropical fruits. We get notes of pineapple, citrus orange, mango, and some grassiness.
Taste
Just like the aroma, the flavors are hoppy and bursting with lots of tropical citrus, pineapple, mango, and grassiness. There is a slight touch of hop bitterness and some sourness.
On the palate, the body is light and refreshing but it does not feel watery. The lively carbonation adds to the mouthfeel, and the finish is dry with some bitterness.
Verdict – Is Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects IPA worth it?
We really enjoyed the complex yet well-balanced aroma and flavors from this non-alcoholic IPA. This feels like a real non-alcoholic craft beer rather than a run-of-the-mill supermarket beer.
Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects IPA feels very “crushable” and would be the perfect non-alcoholic beer to drink on days you want to knock back a few cans without getting drunk.
Where to Buy Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects IPA
If you’re in the United States, you can order Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects IPA from our favorite online retailer Proof No More. It is available as a single can, 4-pack, 6-pack, 12-pack, or a 24-pack.
For those in the UK, you can order Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects Hoppy Amber from Dry Drinkers.
FAQs
How Is Brooklyn Special Effects Made?
Like many non-alcoholic beers, Special Effects is created using a special fermentation method that allows the non-alcoholic beer to taste and smell like beer without any alcohol. Unfortunately, we do not know the exact steps in Brooklyn Brewery’s special fermentation method.
Is Brooklyn Special Effects Vegan?
Yes, all of the Special Effects non-alcoholic beers are vegan-friendly. For more vegan-friendly non-alcoholic beers, check out our list of more vegan NA beers here.
Is Brooklyn Special Effects Gluten-Free?
Unfortunately, you’ll need to skip all of the Special Effects non-alcoholic beers if you are sensitive to gluten. None of their beers are gluten-friendly. Instead, check out our list of gluten-reduced non-alcoholic beers here.
This non-alcoholic IPA packs lots of hoppy flavors with a dry, refreshing finish.