Crackle
Calabogie Brewing Co

473 mL can from Superstore, included in a Calabogie winter sampler pack; no canning date. Served barely chilled.

Pours a clear blonde-yellow colour, fitted with nearly two fingers of fluffy, foamy white head that gradually dissipates. Five minutes later, a frothy collar and thin cap live on, with a messy coat of spidery lace decorating the perimeter - lookin' good so far. Earthy, woodsy hops on the nose, as well as grainy malts, wheat and a muted citrus quality. Not a smidge of cranberry that I can discern.

It seems passable at a glance, but the aftertaste is a bit tiresome. Cranberry juice is noticeable early on, but doesn't necessarily draw attention to itself - instead, it tastes primarily of wheat malts, orange and whole grain bread. Finishes with earthy, spicy, woodsy hop bitterness that lasts well into the aftertaste; a hint of cranberry astringency joins the fray late. Medium in body, with moderately low carbonation and a smooth mouthfeel; the low abv helps with drinkability, but one glass is plenty tonight, thanks.

Final Grade: 3.5, just barely squeaking out a B grade. I had no problem finishing my glass, but Crackle isn't an IPA I feel the need to drink again. I don't necessarily dislike cranberries, but I also don't think there's any compelling reason to throw them into an IPA. Fortunately, they're not exactly a driving force here, other than maybe adding some astringency to Crackle's already-questionable aftertaste. A fun experiment that probably could have turned out better - I'd take their Bogie IPA over this stuff any day of the week.

Jan 26 2026