Mybeerbuzz .com Highlights The 10 Barrel Action Pack’d Variety Pack & Pray For Pow (Review)

I have to admit that for many years, I was never a fan of variety packs. Either the pack included too many beers I didn’t like,or they combined some styles and beers that just wouldn’t work together well for me. I’m happy to admit that after a few years in a row at the beach trying to please different beer drinkers, I’ve now become very fond if variety packs, at least really good variety packs….like today’s.

With that in mind, I was excited to get my hands on the new 10-Barrel Action Pack’d Variety Pack. This new variety pack includes Nature Calls IPA, Profuse Juice, Paddle Captain and Hazy Trail all in handy outdoor-ready 12oz cans. I should also admit that I think the 12oz cans make the most sense for a variety pack, so this one is already ticking a lot of boxes for me. I have reviewed Profuse Juice already, but I’m really excited to sample the other beers in the pack….so off we go.

10 Barrel Nature Calls Mountain IPA

ABV:  6.5%
IBU: 55
Style:  IPA
Packaging:  12oz cans
Appearance:  Bright golden
Aroma:   Lemon, floral and dank pine
Mouthfeel:   Medium with lighter carbonation
Taste:   Stone fruit, berries, melon, lemon and an earthly resinous dry finish
Overall: Nature Calls feels and taste a lot like a traditional west coast-style IPA to me, with a really well balancing punch of fruit. This east-meets-west IPA has a lot of complexity but with a really well-balanced feel. Overall I found this beer to be very drinkable and satisfying and a really good mix of dank IPA and citrusy IPA. This beer also supports The Conservation Alliance which makes me want to drink it even more.

10 Barrel Paddle Captain IPA

ABV:  6.5%
IBU: 60
Style:  IPA
Packaging:  12oz cans
Appearance:  Clear golden amber
Aroma:   Citrus and juicy hops
Mouthfeel:   Medium light
Taste:   Citrus, mild spruce and subtle berry
Overall: Paddle Captain has a very sneaky 60 IBU, and while there is significant hop presence, it isn’t over the top or prominent in the beer. I think this is a testament to the balance of the beer and how well 10 Barrel has done choose the hop varieties on board. Overall this beer is really clean drinking and satisfying, while still remaining fairly light and refreshing. This is a really interesting beer and even though I can’t put my finger on why, you should definitely try it and help me figure out what makes it so good.

10 Barrel Hazy Trail Juicy IPA

ABV:  6.2%
IBU: 60
Style:  Juicy IPA
Packaging:  12oz cans
Appearance:  Hazy light golden
Aroma:   Peach, citrus, pineapple and tropical fruit
Mouthfeel:   Medium and crisp
Taste:   Citrus, tropical fruit, grapefruit, lemon with a sweet finish.
Overall: Hazy Trail has to be one of my favorite beers from the pack. This beer is a great example of what a juicy IPA should be. Bold fruit flavors dominate the palate and the mix of flavors is really enjoyable. Overall this beer brings together some of my favorite flavors for an IPA and what may become my new favorite beach beer. If you like juice-forward IPA’s, you need to taste this beer.

The 10 Barrel Action Pack’d Variety Pack is available now across the 10 Barrel distribution footprint so get out there ad try these beers for yourself. I think you’ll find a great combination of hoppy beers on board and some great examples of several IPA styles. As always, when you do try these beers, be sure to let us know what YOU think.

As a bonus, 10 Barrel included the new Pray For Pow winter stout. This beer is an American stout and also one of 10 Barrel’s most awarded beer recipes. The beer benefits Protect Our Winters (POW) and it will be the fifth beer in the #drinkitforward series as well as 10 Barrel’s winter seasonal…so off we go again.

10 Barrel Pray For Pow

ABV:  7%
IBU: 60    
Style:  American Stout
Packaging:  12oz cans
Appearance:  Deep brown
Aroma:   Chocolate, citrus and dark fruits
Mouthfeel:   Medium & satisfying
Taste:   Roasty chocolate, coffee, raisin and light citrus
Overall: I can see why Pray For Pow is one of 10 Barrel’s most awarded recipe. This beer is wonderfully complex and satisfying and it has just the right amount of alcohol to make it warming without making it boozy. The chocolate and coffee flavors really compliment each other and overall it is a really drinkable stout.

Pray For Pow is available now in 12oz canned 6-packs.