Rye River "Hop Drops" Citra Extra Pale

Crisp, citrusy and seriously crushable.
Hop Drops Citra Extra Pale is Rye River Brewing Company's answer to the question of how much hop character you can pack into a genuinely light and refreshing beer. At just 4.5% ABV, this is a deliberately uncomplicated Extra Pale Ale built around Citra hops and a clean malt character, resulting in a bright, crisp beer that is all about drinkability. Now presented in a 440ml can, it is an easy choice for the fridge when something fresh, hoppy and uncomplicated is exactly what the occasion calls for.

Citra is the star of the show, bringing its familiar combination of citrus, grapefruit and light tropical fruit to the beer without burying the underlying malt. The base is deliberately clean and restrained, allowing the hops to provide the flavour while keeping the body light and the finish refreshing. There is no need for a heavy malt profile or aggressive bitterness here; Hop Drops is designed to be picked up, poured cold and enjoyed with very little ceremony.

In the glass, Hop Drops pours a pale straw colour with a light, lively appearance and a soft white head. The aroma is immediately citrus-led, with fresh lemon and grapefruit alongside subtle tropical hop notes. On the palate it is light and crisp, with clean malt providing just enough structure before the Citra hops bring citrus and gentle fruit character. The bitterness is present but controlled, keeping the beer refreshing rather than intense, and the finish is clean, dry and distinctly moreish.

That simplicity is exactly what makes Hop Drops work. At 4.5%, it sits comfortably below the strength of a typical IPA while retaining enough hop character to feel like a proper craft beer. It is particularly well suited to warm afternoons, casual gatherings and those occasions where a heavier or more intensely flavoured beer simply isn't what is wanted. The 440ml can also makes it a particularly convenient format for keeping a few cold and ready to go.

For anyone exploring Irish craft beer, Hop Drops is a good reminder that a beer doesn't need to be big, hazy or heavily bitter to showcase hops effectively. Rye River keeps the recipe focused and lets Citra do the talking, resulting in a beer that is light, fresh and remarkably easy to drink. It is the sort of Extra Pale Ale that can disappear from the glass before you realise quite how quickly it has gone.

Why we love it:
Hop Drops is a wonderfully straightforward beer that gets the important things right: fresh Citra character, a clean malt base and a crisp finish. Light enough for easy drinking but hoppy enough to keep things interesting, it makes a particularly good choice when refreshment comes first. A very convincing example of how good an Extra Pale Ale can be.