SCIPA, a brut-inspired IPA by Oskar Blues Brewery in collaboration with legendary Colorado jam band The String Cheese Incident, is now available at Oskar Blues Brewery taprooms on draft and in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans. Brewed in celebration of the band’s 25th Anniversary tour, the beer is also available at select String Cheese Incident tour dates.
On a rainy summer day, keyboardist Kyle Hollingsworth, percussionist Jason Hann and bass player Keith Moseley of the String Cheese Incident took the brewing stage at Oskar Blues Brewery’s original brewpub in Lyons, CO. Alongside Oskar Blues Lyons’ Head Brewer, Juice Drapeau, they brewed a crisp, dry, and heartily dry-hopped brut-inspired IPA. At 6.5% ABV, it’s approachable enough for showtime sipping.
Hollingsworth, who has been brewing since the age of 18, worked closely with Drapeau on recipe formulation for SCIPA. “It was great working with Kyle to dial this in because he has so much brewing knowledge,” said Drapeau. “It was a true collaboration.”
They settled on Mosaic hops for the whirlpool, and Enigma, Simcoe, Citra and Strata during the double dry-hopping process. The aggressive combination of hops offers a dank, citrusy depth of flavor, balanced against a light but layered malt bill of award-winning Root Shoot Pale Genie Malt from Loveland, Colorado, German Pilsner Malt and Vienna. Toasted flaked rice was incorporated as a 100% fermentable sugar and to provide depth in the mouthfeel.
“I wanted something in a progressive style that was crisp and not too sweet – something for pouring and enjoying at amphitheaters, music festivals and camping,” explained Hollingsworth.
The beer is deliciously dank, briskly carbonated and easy-drinking, but the collaboration is about more than that; it’s about celebrating a deep connection to Colorful Colorado, the beloved home state of both the band and the brewery. “We wanted to support a Colorado brewery,” said Hollingsworth. “Keeping it local is important to us.”
Look for SCIPA at Oskar Blues Brewery taprooms on draft and in four-packs of 16 oz. cans and at SCI’s upcoming tour dates. See tour dates here or contact Aaron Baker at aaron@oskarblues.com with questions.
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