Deschutes Even Funner Hazy IPA & Helles-Style Lager

Deschutes Even Funner Hazy IPA & Helles-Style Lager

Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon, has two new 12-ounce beer lagerheaded our way, and they’re bringing two very different drinking experiences with them. Today I’m sharing an early look at Deschutes Even Funner Hazy IPA and Deschutes Helles-Style Lager, including the new can artwork, alcohol content, beer descriptions, and an interesting connection to a previous Great American Beer Festival gold medal winner.

One is big, juicy, and hop-forward. The other takes a cleaner, more traditional approach, with a familiar award-winning lager returning under a more straightforward name.

Two different directions here.

Deschutes Even Funner Hazy IPA brings the juice

First up is Even Funner Hazy IPA, a new 6.5% ABV India Pale Ale that puts tropical fruit flavors and big-flavor hops front and center.

According to the new Deschutes Even Funner Hazy IPA label, this beer combines vibrant mango, sweet pineapple, and ripe strawberry over a pillowy soft malt backbone. That sounds like a pretty appealing combination, especially for hazy IPA drinkers who enjoy fruit-forward hop character without losing the underlying beer in the process.

Deschutes describes Even Funner Hazy IPA as a juicy, sun-drenched beer built around fresh stripes, good vibes, and an unmistakably playful personality.

And that personality carries straight into the packaging.

The new Even Funner Hazy IPA 12-ounce can features a wild, green hop character behind the wheel of a bright red hot rod, complete with oversized eyes, a goofy grin, and a tongue hanging out. The orange background, bold HAZY IPA lettering, and prominent Deschutes branding make this one pretty difficult to miss.

It’s fun stuff.

The beer itself checks in at 6.5% ABV, putting Deschutes Even Funner Hazy IPA in familiar territory for drinkers looking for a full-flavored hazy IPA without moving into double IPA strength.

Deschutes Helles-Style Lager brings back Prinz Crispy

The second beer is especially interesting because it has some history behind it.

Deschutes Helles-Style Lager is the beer previously known as Prinz Crispy, the brewery’s 2023 Great American Beer Festival gold medal-winning lager.

Rather than introducing an entirely unfamiliar beer, Deschutes is giving this award-winning Munich-style Helles a new presentation, with the familiar Prinz Crispy name appearing in smaller lettering on the new can.

The Deschutes Helles-Style Lager label describes the beer as clean, crisp, and crushable, calling it an award-winning Helles-style lager that stands out among America’s finest.

At 4.5% ABV, Deschutes Helles-Style Lager offers a sessionable alternative to the bigger, fruitier Even Funner Hazy IPA. Its Munich-style Helles identity also suggests a more restrained drinking experience, where malt character, balance, and a clean finish take priority over aggressive hop flavors.

And the packaging reflects that approach.

Instead of the wild orange and green artwork found on Even Funner Hazy IPA, the new Deschutes Helles-Style Lager can uses a light cream-colored background, prominent red Lager lettering, gold accents, and the Deschutes Brewery mountain logo.

The label also proudly displays the beer’s 2023 Great American Beer Festival gold medal, with the original Prinz Crispy name appearing beneath the award.

A familiar beer. A fresh look.

Two new Deschutes Brewery 12-ounce cans

Both Deschutes Even Funner Hazy IPA and Deschutes Helles-Style Lager will arrive in newly designed 12-ounce (355 mL) cans.

For Deschutes Brewery fans, these releases offer an interesting contrast. Even Funner Hazy IPA leans into the juicy, tropical character that continues to attract hazy IPA drinkers, while Helles-Style Lager brings an established award-winning recipe back into focus with cleaner, more traditional branding.

The move also gives Deschutes two approachable beers with noticeably different strengths and flavor profiles: a 6.5% ABV hazy IPA and a 4.5% ABV Munich-style Helles lager.

The exact release dates, distribution details, pricing, and additional packaging formats have not yet been confirmed in the information available here.

I’ll be watching for more details on both new Deschutes Brewery beers, particularly when Even Funner Hazy IPA will begin appearing on shelves and how widely the newly packaged Helles-Style Lager will be distributed.

For now, take a look at the new can artwork and stay tuned for additional updates as these two Deschutes releases get closer to arriving.

Label Text:

Deschutes Even Funner Hazy IPA

EVEN FUNNER HAZY IPA

FRESH STRIPES, SUN-DRENCHED VIBES, AND BIG-FLAVOR HOPS! REVVED UP WITH VIBRANT MANGO, SWEET PINEAPPLE, AND RIPE STRAWBERRY OVER A PILLOWY SOFT MALT BACKBONE, THIS JUICY HAZY IPA IS PURE POST-MOW PERFECTION. MOW HARD, KICK BACK, AND MAKE TODAY EVEN FUNNER!

6.5% ALC/VOL

12 FL OZ (355 mL)

Deschutes Helles-Style Lager

HELLES-STYLE LAGER

Clean, crisp, and crushable. This award-winning helles-style lager stands out among the finest in America.

2023 GOLD
GREAT AMERICAN BEER FESTIVAL

MUNICH-STYLE HELLES ENTERED AS PRINZ CRISPY

4.5% ALC/VOL

12 FL OZ / 355 mL

Related news from mybeerbuzz.com:
For more Deschutes Brewery news, check out our previous coverage of Deschutes Harvest Crispy Pilsner, a limited-edition collaboration featuring experimental hops, and our look at Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA becoming the Official Beer of Pizza. We’ve also covered the brewery’s collaboration with Patagonia Provisions on Kernza Lager and Non-Alcoholic Golden Brew, along with the latest Deschutes Schweet Break Hard Lemonade. These releases offer another look at how the Bend, Oregon brewery continues expanding its selection of IPAs, lagers, and specialty beverages.

About Deschutes Brewery

Deschutes Brewery is an independent, family- and employee-owned American craft brewery headquartered in Bend, Oregon. Founded in 1988 by Gary Fish, Deschutes Brewery has grown from a small downtown brewpub into one of the most recognizable names in American craft beer, producing an extensive collection of award-winning IPAs, porters, pale ales, lagers, seasonal releases, and specialty beers.

The brewery takes its name from the Deschutes River, an important part of Central Oregon’s identity. When Gary Fish opened the original Deschutes Brewery and Public House, the goal was to create a welcoming neighborhood gathering place where people could enjoy freshly brewed beer, good food, and conversation. That original brewpub helped establish Bend as an important destination for craft beer enthusiasts.

Deschutes Brewery initially built its reputation around beers that remain familiar to craft beer drinkers decades later. Black Butte Porter became one of the brewery’s defining releases, delivering roasted malt character, chocolate notes, and a smooth drinking experience. Mirror Pond Pale Ale helped introduce generations of beer enthusiasts to the balanced hop character associated with Pacific Northwest pale ales.

Fresh Squeezed IPA eventually became another major part of the Deschutes Brewery portfolio. Known for its grapefruit and passionfruit character, Fresh Squeezed IPA helped establish the brewery’s position in the competitive American IPA category. Other recognizable releases include Fresh Haze IPA, Obsidian Stout, Jubelale, and a rotating collection of experimental and seasonal craft beers.

Deschutes Brewery has also demonstrated considerable interest in traditional European beer styles, particularly lagers. Releases such as King Crispy Pilsner and Prinz Crispy show another side of the Bend brewery, emphasizing precise fermentation, balanced malt character, and refreshing drinkability rather than relying exclusively on hop intensity.

The introduction of Deschutes Helles-Style Lager continues that tradition, giving the brewery’s 2023 Great American Beer Festival gold medal-winning Prinz Crispy a refreshed presentation. Meanwhile, Deschutes Even Funner Hazy IPA represents the more playful, fruit-forward side of the brewery’s expanding IPA selection.

Beyond its traditional craft beer offerings, Deschutes Brewery has explored non-alcoholic brewing, collaborations, and alternative beverages. Black Butte Non-Alcoholic and Fresh Squeezed Non-Alcoholic demonstrate the brewery’s interest in delivering familiar beer flavors to consumers seeking options with significantly less alcohol.

Collaboration has also become an important part of the Deschutes Brewery story. Its partnership with Patagonia Provisions introduced beers featuring Kernza, a perennial grain associated with regenerative agriculture, while other specialty projects have brought new ingredients and brewing approaches into the company’s portfolio.

Sustainability and community involvement remain important parts of the brewery’s operations. Deschutes supports conservation organizations, charitable initiatives, recycling programs, and efforts intended to reduce the environmental impact of brewing. The company also participates in community fundraising through its Pints with a Purpose program.

Visitors can experience Deschutes Brewery firsthand at its original Bend Public House, its Bend tasting room and beer garden, and its Portland Public House. These locations provide opportunities to explore familiar flagship beers alongside smaller releases and beers that may not receive widespread distribution.

Today, Deschutes Brewery continues balancing the traditional recipes that established its reputation with newer releases designed for changing craft beer preferences. From Black Butte Porter and Fresh Squeezed IPA to Even Funner Hazy IPA and Helles-Style Lager, the brewery maintains a broad selection that reflects nearly four decades of American brewing history.

For additional information about Deschutes Brewery, its current beer selection, brewery tours, upcoming releases, and retail availability, visit the official Deschutes Brewery website

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