Take The Causeway IPA
Fairhope Brewing Company
- From:
- Fairhope Brewing Company
- Alabama, United States
- Style:
- American IPA
Ranked #825 - ABV:
- 8.2%
- Score:
- 90
Ranked #11,293 - Avg:
- 4.05 | pDev: 10.12%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 38
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 10, 2025
- Added:
- Jul 11, 2013
- Wants:
- 7
- Gots:
- 45
SCORE
90
Outstanding
90
Outstanding
It's 4:53 p.m. on a Friday in July in downtown Mobile.
All that stands between you and a weekend of rest and relaxation on the Eastern Shore is 7.5 miles of Mobile Bay, and you have two ways to cross it.
Any Lower Alabamian can tell you to leave the Bayway and its traffic to the tourists and take the Causeway instead, and it was with that advice in mind that we named our summer IPA.
Copious amounts of Citra and Simcoe hops are used throughout the brewing process in this American India Pale Ale. From first-wort to bittering, flavor, aroma and dry hops, an artful combination of just two extraordinary hops leads to an explosively hoppy finish on the palate.
All that stands between you and a weekend of rest and relaxation on the Eastern Shore is 7.5 miles of Mobile Bay, and you have two ways to cross it.
Any Lower Alabamian can tell you to leave the Bayway and its traffic to the tourists and take the Causeway instead, and it was with that advice in mind that we named our summer IPA.
Copious amounts of Citra and Simcoe hops are used throughout the brewing process in this American India Pale Ale. From first-wort to bittering, flavor, aroma and dry hops, an artful combination of just two extraordinary hops leads to an explosively hoppy finish on the palate.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by jettjon from Florida
3.87/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.87/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
From a 12 oz can into a pint glass, quite hazy pale orange color with mildly foamy head and good retention. Nose is not particularly strong, just a whiff of piney hops. Taste is unexpectedly bitter up front with lots of piney hops and very little malt balance, but it’s there… this isn’t a hop bomb, just strongly hopped without going over the top. Finishes on a similar dry hoppy note. Mouth is pleasantly creamy and refreshing. Overall, pretty solid, bonus points since it’s a local beer for me. Would try again.
Jun 29, 2025
Reviewed by Radome from Florida
4.1/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 oz can that I bought in Northwest Florida.
Slightly hazy medium gold appearance. Loose but rocky head persists as a thin layer. Strong aroma is full of pine and bitter orange pith from the hops, but also a low bready malt note. Flavors are similar, with huge amounts of the citrus and pine hops and just a hint of malt sweetness. Medium body with some sweetness in the finish and a slightly sticky mouthfeel. Massive bitterness hides most of the alcohol heat.
This is a well-made, old school, West Coast IPA. I haven't had this level of bitterness in a beer in a while. It would be right at home in the early 2000s, but it is still a tasty beer that now stands out more than it would have back when the style reached peak popularity. This is unexpectedly very good to me. Bravo!
Jun 16, 2025Slightly hazy medium gold appearance. Loose but rocky head persists as a thin layer. Strong aroma is full of pine and bitter orange pith from the hops, but also a low bready malt note. Flavors are similar, with huge amounts of the citrus and pine hops and just a hint of malt sweetness. Medium body with some sweetness in the finish and a slightly sticky mouthfeel. Massive bitterness hides most of the alcohol heat.
This is a well-made, old school, West Coast IPA. I haven't had this level of bitterness in a beer in a while. It would be right at home in the early 2000s, but it is still a tasty beer that now stands out more than it would have back when the style reached peak popularity. This is unexpectedly very good to me. Bravo!
Reviewed by ANIMOUL from California
4.25/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Buster's Pizza in Daphne; served in pint glass. Reddish color with two fingers of head that rapidly recedes. Tastes of slight burnt malt with decent hops to counter balace. Medium bodied. Very good.
Jul 16, 2024
Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania
3.78/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.78/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Canned on: ?????
A - Deep medium golden copper pour with soapy white
S - Malty juicy floral aroma.
T - Caramel malt base with some faded juicy floral and a piney finish.
M - Light medium body.
O - Solid middle of the road.
Mar 23, 2024A - Deep medium golden copper pour with soapy white
S - Malty juicy floral aroma.
T - Caramel malt base with some faded juicy floral and a piney finish.
M - Light medium body.
O - Solid middle of the road.
Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky
4/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bridging the gap between flavor and refreshment, Fairhope Brewing can at least take the tastebuds on vacation with the help of Citra and Simcoe hops for a taste that meets all of our summer needs.
Take The Causeway comes with a deep golden, medium amber hue that's set in a fine mesh haze. As a citrusy scent unfolds on the nose, so do a sharper and grassier scent. Sweeter though to start, the early impressions of caramel and granola set a malty tone.
As the hops continue to grow, the malts recede for a full citrus complement of tangerine, pink grapefruit and orange zest. A soft and juicy center of honey dipped mango and pineapple right before the taste finishes resinous, piney and grassy with the curious suggestion of hemp, spruce and peppery botanicals.
Medium bodied and trending drier, the beer is a thirst quenching, refreshing and mostly clean IPA that's as welcomed on the mainland as it is near the sea.
Oct 28, 2022Take The Causeway comes with a deep golden, medium amber hue that's set in a fine mesh haze. As a citrusy scent unfolds on the nose, so do a sharper and grassier scent. Sweeter though to start, the early impressions of caramel and granola set a malty tone.
As the hops continue to grow, the malts recede for a full citrus complement of tangerine, pink grapefruit and orange zest. A soft and juicy center of honey dipped mango and pineapple right before the taste finishes resinous, piney and grassy with the curious suggestion of hemp, spruce and peppery botanicals.
Medium bodied and trending drier, the beer is a thirst quenching, refreshing and mostly clean IPA that's as welcomed on the mainland as it is near the sea.
Reviewed by smackdanie from Illinois
3.63/5 rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.63/5 rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
An old school ish ipa. No real nose, nice head, lovely dark gold look, average mouthfeel. Tastes like an hoppy ipa, no fruit and good malt balance to a solid, traditional IPA. Not worth going out of your way to track down, but I'd be happy to drink it when I find it.
Oct 17, 2020
Reviewed by Thankin_Hank from Texas
4.11/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.11/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Looks like a rich lager. Smells like sweet and fruity beer. Not very strong on hops. Tastes a bit sweet up front and and then you get some mild hops. A terrific mouthfeel like very smooth and lacks any bitterness. Overall a very different style of IPA that hits the spot. On draft at the Half Shell Oyster House, Daphne, Alabama.
Oct 23, 2019
Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio
3.88/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.88/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
I tried this at the Loda BierGarten in downtown Mobile, AL whilst there on business. The beer poured a hazy golden with thin white head that left some lace. The scent had faint hints of citrus fruit. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with subtle sweetness to start then a bitter citrus finish. The mouthfeel was lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall its a good beer.
Aug 17, 2019
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!