O’Hara’s Tropical IPA

Tropical fruit. Creamy haze. A seriously juicy Irish IPA.

O’Hara’s Tropical IPA is where the modern, hop-driven side of Irish craft brewing really comes alive. Brewed by Carlow Brewing Company in County Carlow, this is a bold and generously hopped IPA built around the flavours of ripe tropical fruit, citrus, and juicy stone fruit. At 7.2% ABV, it has considerably more weight and intensity than the more approachable pale ales in the O’Hara’s range, yet its soft texture and expressive fruit character make it remarkably easy to enjoy.

The beer takes inspiration from the modern hazy IPA movement, where the focus has shifted from aggressive bitterness towards aroma, texture, and flavour. O’Hara’s achieves that character through a combination of oats and wheat, which contribute a smooth, creamy mouthfeel, alongside a carefully selected hop bill featuring Mosaic, Azacca, and El Dorado. Citra and Mosaic are then used for dry hopping, adding another layer of fresh citrus and tropical aroma to the finished beer.

The result is a beautifully hazy golden beer with an aroma that immediately suggests fresh tropical fruit. Tangerine and citrus sit alongside ripe papaya, mango, and pineapple, while the softer malt profile gives the beer a rounded, almost creamy texture. Rather than relying on harsh bitterness, the hops provide layers of flavour that build progressively across the palate, making the beer feel generous and expressive without losing its balance.

At 7.2%, this is very much an IPA rather than a session beer. There is warmth and substance beneath the fruit, but the combination of haze, oats, wheat, and modern hop selection keeps the beer soft and remarkably drinkable. The bitterness is present but integrated, allowing the tropical character to remain the star from the first sip through to the finish.

For beer lovers in Ireland, Tropical IPA is a particularly good example of how far the country's craft brewing scene has evolved. O’Hara’s began by helping revive interest in traditional Irish beer styles, but releases such as this demonstrate its ability to embrace contemporary brewing techniques and international hop culture. It is unmistakably an Irish craft beer, yet stylistically at home alongside some of the best modern hazy IPAs being brewed around the world.

Why we love it:
This is the O’Hara’s beer for serious hop and tropical-fruit lovers. The combination of mango, papaya, pineapple, tangerine, and citrus is wonderfully expressive, while oats and wheat give the beer a soft, creamy texture that makes the 7.2% strength surprisingly approachable. There is plenty of depth here, but the beer never feels clumsy or excessively bitter. It is juicy, substantial, aromatic, and unmistakably craft.