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Dogfish Head releases oat-milk hazy IPA beer

It’s only been a few years that oat milk has been on grocery store shelves, but the plant-based milk alternative has made waves with its latest inroads being in the beer sector. In partnership with oat milk maker Elmhurst 1925, beer brand Dogfish Head has released an oat-based hazy IPA called Hazy-O!

The hazy IPA has a 7.1% ABV and is available in six-packs of 12-ounce cans in the U.S. Made with four types of oats – malted, rolled, naked and oat milk – the brewer said the beverage has a “sumptuous, full-bodied base” that is complemented by hops that import tropical notes to the beer, including citrus, mango and pineapple flavors.

“Oats are the star of the show," said Dogfish Head founder Sam Calagione in a statement. "Malted oats offer delicate malty sweetness; rolled oats contribute a dense haze; naked oats provide subtle toasty, caramel character; and the piece de resistance, oat milk, creates a silky soft mouthfeel.”

This oat-milk-centric IPA takes advantage of the growing popularity of oat milk, which according to SPINS data for 2020 vaulted 220%. As more consumers look to leave animal dairy behind for both health and environmental reasons, oat milk has become wildly popular with many brands incorporating the ingredient into their formulations. In fact, the beverage has catapulted to such visibility that Oatly, the major legacy brand in the space, made its initial public offering in mid-May selling $1.65 billion worth of shares.

At the same time that oat milk’s popularity is surging, so too is that of hazy IPAs. IRI statistics for the 13 weeks ending October 25, the beer style grew 80%, making it the fastest-growing beer style in the U.S. With this latest release, Dogfish Head is capitalizing on the continued interest from consumers in craft brews even as traditional beers have slowly lost market share over the last several years.

In its statement about the release of this product, Calagione commented that this brew was crafted to appeal to many audiences, “craft beer geeks, wellness-conscience consumers and drinkers seeking lactose-free and vegan options.”