Tiny Rebel - Clwb Tropica

Clwb Tropica is a hazy, fruited IPA from Tiny Rebel Brewing Co, brewed at around 5% ABV and built around a heavy dose of American hops alongside natural peach, passionfruit, pineapple and mango flavours. It is one of the best selling beers in Tiny Rebel's range and was originally launched under the name Clwb Tropicana, before being renamed Clwb Tropica after a legal challenge from PepsiCo, the owner of the Tropicana juice brand. The beer itself did not change, only the name, and it remains known for its intensely juicy, fruit forward character.

Tiny Rebel Brewing Co was founded in Newport, South Wales, in 2012 by brothers-in-law Bradley Cummings and Gareth Williams, who began brewing in a home garage before building a commercial brewery in the city. The pair drew on Newport's street art and graffiti scene for the brewery's identity, and grew Tiny Rebel into one of the most recognised names in Welsh craft beer, winning Champion Beer of Britain in 2015 for their Cwtch Welsh Red Ale. The brewery later moved into a larger, purpose built site in Rogerstone, and Clwb Tropica has become one of its flagship beers alongside Cwtch, known particularly for its hazy appearance and heavily fruited hop character.

As a hazy IPA, Clwb Tropica pours a cloudy, deep golden colour with a soft, pillowy head, and its aroma leans heavily on tropical fruit rather than the more resinous, piney character found in some West Coast style IPAs. American hop varieties are used generously to create a juicy, almost fruit juice like intensity, reinforced by the peach, passionfruit, pineapple and mango flavourings that give the beer its name and its distinctive character. Despite the fruit forward profile, it retains the fuller body and moderate bitterness expected of an IPA, with the sweetness and hop bitterness balanced against each other rather than one dominating. A non-alcoholic version is also brewed for drinkers who want the same flavour profile without the alcohol.

Clwb Tropica's tropical, juicy character makes it a good match for spicy food, particularly Thai, Caribbean or Mexican dishes, where the sweetness and fruit notes can offset chilli heat. It also works well with barbecued food or grilled fish, and its lively, fruit driven character makes it a popular choice for warmer weather drinking, served cold in a standard pint or tulip glass to show off its aroma. As with most hazy IPAs, it is best drunk relatively fresh, since the hop aroma is a large part of its appeal.

As one of Tiny Rebel's flagship beers, Clwb Tropica is a good example of the modern, heavily fruited hazy IPA style, and its renaming from Clwb Tropicana has become something of a well known story within UK craft beer circles. It remains a reliable choice for drinkers who want a juicy, tropical fruit led IPA from an established Welsh brewery.