🍊 Crush Returns: Bluewood’s juiciest NEIPA is back

There are beers that become seasonal rituals. Beers you wait for. Crave. Scroll for. For me, that beer has a name: Crush—and the word alone instantly transports me back to the summer of 2020.

It was a weird, heavy time—thanks, COVID—but one bright, citrusy thing cut through the haze (literal and metaphorical): the return of this absolute stunner from Bluewood Brewing. Back then, it poured from blue cans with minimal label flash, a modest exterior hiding what became, for me and many others, the Beer of Summer.

Fast forward to 2025, and not only is Crush back on tap and in cans, but it’s rocking an upated look. Say goodbye to the old blue blank-slate. Say hello to an orange-blasted can featuring a juicy guitar wrapped in citrus. This label absolutely slaps, and it tells you everything you need to know: this beer is about flavor, vibe, and rhythm.

🍺 The Beer: NEIPA + Oranges = Liquid Sunshine

Crush is Bluewood’s beloved New England-style IPA, brewed with Amarillo and Citra hops, and loaded with fresh orange to punch up the juicy, citrus-forward profile. It pours like a glass of fresh OJ—opaque and vibrant, with a fluffy white head that begs for patio sunshine.

And the secret sauce? A Norwegian yeast strain that ferments hot and fast, locking in peak hop aroma and that signature soft, silky mouthfeel NEIPA fans chase. Add in active-fermentation dry-hopping, and this thing practically glows with orange zest, melon, honeysuckle, and a touch of earthiness. It’s juicy, but clean. Silky, but refreshing. It’s Crush.

🎸 Behind the Name: A Nod to the Music

Like many Bluewood beers, Crush is more than a clever beer pun. It’s a nod to music—likely Dave Matthews Band’s “Crush”, a track as smooth and layered as the beer itself. Bluewood doesn’t just brew beers; they score them like soundtracks.

🍍 Yes, There’s a Variant!

If you’re like me and Crush is already a fridge staple, don’t sleep on its juicy sibling: Pineapple Crush. It debuted in May a few years back and brings a tropical twist that’s still balanced and crushable—not a tiki sugar bomb. It’s not always around, but it’s always welcome.

⏳ Limited Time Only

Like all great seasonal releases, Crush doesn’t stick around long. So if you see it posted on Bluewood’s socials, run—not walk. Whether on draft at their Cherokee Street taproom or in 4-packs to go, this is a beer that begs for back porch hangs, grill smoke in the air, and that perfect playlist in the background.