Top 100 Beers of 2021

#11

96
Jockamo Juicy IPA
Abita Brewing Co.

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Head Brewer Mark Wilson Talks Jockamo Juicy IPA

Who was responsible for this beer’s recipe?
The creation of Jockamo was a team effort from all our brewers. We knew what we wanted to create when we began pilot brewing the beer. We worked together to test various versions until we developed the one that we all enjoyed, and that’s the one we released.

What sets this beer apart from other examples within the style?
When we started crafting the recipe and making pilot batches for Jockamo, we were utilizing experimental hops. We now know that Jockamo is brewed with Talus hops, which delivers the bold flavors and aromas of tropical fruit.

What makes this beer truly World Class?
We always follow the mantra “quality before quantity” and this rings true with Jockamo. Our team is dedicated to delivering consistency and high-quality standards when creating all of our brews. This process can get complicated for IPAs, but it is a standard we take pride in delivering.

What is your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, mouthfeel, etc.)?
This is a New England-style IPA, so it has the mouthfeel, lower bitterness and haze common to this style. It is also double dry hopped. The overall experience you gain by drinking a Jockamo is our favorite part. From the initial aroma of tropical fruit and hop character, which also translates to the taste, Jockamo offers our drinkers an experience like none other.

How popular is this beer among your faithful fans?
Jockamo is definitely one of our more popular IPAs. Our fans have shared their love for the brew with us and that’s why it’s here to stay as a year-round offering.

Where does this beer’s name come from?
We started our Jockamo journey over 12 years ago when we originally released Jockamo, the first IPA crafted in Louisiana to celebrate our rich and unique culture through the beer’s bold flavor. This new juicy version is an even bolder IPA with intense hop flavors and aromas. Featuring brighter, more tropical tones, this beer pours a vivacious gold color with a distinguishing haze. The flavor is bold like the suits and feathers the Mardi Gras Indians wear.

Judge’s Second Opinion

I was asked to give a second opinion of Jockamo Juicy IPA by Abita Brewing Co. very soon after I gave my first impression, in which I considered it as one of the better NEIPAs out there. Fortunately, I still had fresh examples of this brew to evaluate, and my opinion after tasting it again is even stronger now than it was the first time!

The exceptional approachability of this well-crafted offering is what really pushes it to the top of the list. It is the overall package – where there is a wonderful balance in both the aroma and flavor, with a depth of characters in both that allow you to sit back and truly savor the complexity of this brew – which isn’t typical for beers of this style.

When it comes to any American-type IPA style, the first thing you should notice is the aroma. This brew truly follows that rule, with its explosion of fresh Citra and dank hops that greets drinkers the second the can is opened. While the Citra hop character is more notable than the rest, the other hop notes complement this very well to deliver a certain complexity with layers of aroma.

The next important aspect is, of course, the flavor. When it comes to a NEIPA, you expect a burst of fresh hop flavor with a moderately low hop bitterness that is enough to balance out the residual malty sweetness of the style. Again, Jockamo passes these parameters with flying colors.

What made this effort stand out amongst the rest for me is how the late-addition hops used in this brew are not delivering the lingering harshness typically seen in beers of this style. In Jockamo, the drinker can savor the layers of flavor in the brew without those annoying harsh notes.

Putting it all together, Jockamo delivers a delicious, full-flavored and refreshing offering that gives you a complete package from first sip through aftertaste. This is truly a world-class IPA. – Joseph Formanek