Crooked Stave 'Little Dragon' Hazy IPA Beer, Colorado

Juicy hop character and a soft hazy profile define Crooked Stave 'Little Dragon' Hazy IPA Beer, a collaboration with La Cumbre Brewing Co. built around the expressive combination of Peacharine and El Dorado hops. This original 7% ABV release was dry-hopped with both varieties, bringing a fruit-forward dimension to its Hazy IPA framework while retaining enough hop structure to keep the palate focused. Little Dragon reflects Crooked Stave's broader brewing philosophy, where technical fermentation knowledge and experimentation extend beyond the wild and barrel-aged beers that established the brewery's reputation.

Product Details:

• Hops: Peacharine and El Dorado
• Dry Hopping: Dry-hopped with Peacharine and El Dorado
• ABV: 7%
• Production: Collaborative Hazy IPA emphasizing the fruit-forward aromatic character of Peacharine and El Dorado hops

Sensory Description:

Little Dragon presents a hazy appearance with an expressive, hop-driven profile shaped by Peacharine and El Dorado. The aroma leans toward ripe stone fruit and citrus, with tropical fruit tones adding further dimension. On the palate, the beer is juicy and rounded, carrying peach-like fruit, citrus, and tropical hop character over a soft Hazy IPA structure. A measured bitterness defines the fruit-forward profile, leading into a dry, hop-focused finish that keeps the beer lively despite its 7% ABV.

Brewer's Background:

Crooked Stave Brewing Co. was founded by Chad Yakobson in 2010 as the Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project, initially exploring the intersection of brewing science, wild fermentation, and barrel aging. Yakobson's academic work in brewing and distilling included advanced research into Brettanomyces fermentation, knowledge that helped shape the brewery's early identity and reputation for complex sour and wild ales. Crooked Stave has since developed a much broader portfolio encompassing lagers, hop-forward IPAs, stouts, experimental releases, and its established barrel-aged beers. Today the brewery is majority woman-owned and operated by Yetta Vorobik, with Yakobson remaining involved as a guiding visionary. Little Dragon demonstrates the brewery's modern hop-focused side through a collaboration with La Cumbre Brewing Co., applying Peacharine and El Dorado dry hopping to a contemporary Hazy IPA.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve at approximately 42 to 46°F in an IPA glass, tulip, or stemmed beer glass to emphasize its stone-fruit, citrus, and tropical hop aromatics while preserving its refreshing structure. Pair with fish tacos, grilled chicken, spicy shrimp, green chile dishes, citrus-marinated pork, or sharp cheddar. The beer's juicy hop character also works well alongside moderately spicy foods, where its fruit-forward profile can soften heat while the finishing bitterness refreshes the palate.