Jupa is a New England Pale Ale from Five Points Brewing up by London Fields. Brewed with Simcoe on the boil and dry hopped with Citra and Mosaic, it’s sweet, citrussy, and smooth, great for cooling off on a hot day. Jupa contains gluten and it’s vegan served from a keg or can, but watch out – it isn’t vegan served from cask.
I’m sitting outside my local pub overlooking the traffic on Roman Road. The wind is bitterly cold, my teeth are chattering, and the first drops of rain have just started to dilute my pint. And yet, I couldn’t be happier.
It’s been so long since we’ve been able to order fresh, cask beer from the pub. Now, discovering freshly served beer is a delight I get to experience all over again.
The slightly rained-upon beer in my outdoor-safe plastic cup is Jupa, a citrussy pale ale from Five Points Brewery just up the road. I’m a little wary of any beer a brewer describes as “crushable” – having been served a variety of all-too crushable beers at 7% ABV – but in this case at 5.5%, the claim is only moderately irresponsible.
Vividly orange and slightly cloudy, Jupa gives off an aroma of orange peel, sticky marmalade, and proving dough. The palate is smooth and sweet: orange flavours dominate, but there are also some tropical flavours coming to play with pineapple and mango joining the party.
As promised, there’s essentially no bitterness here at all, making it far too easy to gulp Jupa down. Instead, a little wheat and oat help thicken the mouthfeel slightly and bring some additional sweetness.
The result is a simple, approachable, dare I say “crushable” beer. It would work fabulously as a thirst-quencher on a sweltering hot day or after a long hike. It’s a shame that on this occasion I’m drinking it in the freezing cold after walking the 500 metres between my home and the pub.
