Crikey! IPA is Reuben’s Brews’ flagship West Coast IPA, and the most decorated beer to come out of the Seattle brewery. It was the first non-imperial IPA Reuben’s ever brewed, first canned in 2014, and has gone on to win, in the brewery’s own words, more awards than any other IPA in Washington. Its biggest result came at the 2022 World Beer Awards, where it took the World’s Best IPA title in the American Style category – one of only a handful of World Beer Awards IPA winners, across nine years of the competition, that a US buyer can actually track down and order today.
Reuben’s Brews Crikey! IPA at a glance
| Style | West Coast IPA |
| ABV | 6.8% |
| IBU | 53 |
| Brewery | Reuben’s Brews, Seattle, Washington |
| Hops | Citra, Amarillo, Simcoe, Centennial, Mosaic, Azacca |
| Malts | Pale, Caramel, Wheat, Carapils |
| Award | World’s Best IPA (American Style), World Beer Awards 2022 |
| Availability | Confirmed on Saucey (Seattle delivery area), $17.49 per 6-pack of 12oz cans |
How it tastes, by the numbers
Crikey! comes in at 6.8% ABV and 53 IBU, built on a base of pale, caramel, wheat and carapils malts and dry-hopped with Citra, Amarillo, Simcoe, Centennial, Mosaic and Azacca. Reuben’s Brews describes it as ‘the perfect IPA’ the brewery worked backward from during years of small-batch hop-blend testing – bright citrus, pine and tropical fruit layered over a clean, balanced malt backbone.
The full review
The World Beer Awards judging panel’s official tasting note for Crikey! (2025 competition entry) describes ‘a bright yellow colour, clear with a persistent white head,’ with an aroma that ‘combines bready malt sweetness with earthy, resinous hops and subtle citrus notes of lemon rind.’ On flavour, the judges called it ‘malt-forward, layered with tropical fruit, guava, and light grapefruit pith, balanced by a firm, lifting bitterness throughout,’ finishing ‘long and lingering, dominated by resiny bitterness yet tempered by underlying malt sweetness.’
Reuben’s Brews’ own tasting description points to the same territory from the brewer’s side: co-founder and brewmaster Adam Robbings built Crikey as a scaled-down version of Blimey, the brewery’s triple IPA, using his three favorite hops of the time ‘really ramping them up in the dry hop.’ He wanted something distinct from English-style IPAs and the hazy IPAs that hadn’t yet reached the Pacific Northwest – ‘a hoppy West Coast IPA with a moderately bitter profile.’
Drinker reviews on BeerAdvocate echo the same profile: citrus, pine and bitter hops up front, with enough malt backbone to keep it balanced rather than a one-note hop bomb. It reads as a beer built for West Coast IPA loyalists first, rather than an attempt to chase the hazy, juice-forward trend.
Bright yellow colour, clear with a persistent white head… the finish is long and lingering, dominated by resiny bitterness yet tempered by underlying malt sweetness.
- Genuinely decorated: Reuben’s Brews says Crikey has earned more awards than any other IPA brewed in Washington state, including the World’s Best IPA (American Style) title at the 2022 World Beer Awards
- Classic West Coast IPA profile – citrus, pine and tropical fruit over a clean malt backbone, judged by the World Beer Awards panel as ‘malt-forward, layered with tropical fruit, guava, and light grapefruit pith’
- One of the very few World Beer Awards IPA winners a US drinker can actually buy: it is stocked and deliverable through Saucey in the Seattle area
- 6.8% ABV puts it solidly in classic West Coast IPA territory – stronger than a session IPA, without going into imperial territory
- Saucey stock is regional – we confirmed it in the Seattle, WA delivery zone; availability elsewhere on the platform will vary
- 53 IBU and a resiny, bitter finish mean it is not a fit for drinkers who find West Coast IPAs too bitter
- As a canned release from a mid-size regional brewery, it is easier to find in the Pacific Northwest than nationally
Who it is for
Crikey! is for West Coast IPA drinkers who want citrus and pine hop character with real bitterness, not a soft, juicy hazy IPA. It suits anyone who wants to try an internationally judged, multi-award IPA without paying import or rarity prices – it is a mainstream Reuben’s Brews release, not a limited one-off.
Reuben’s Brews Crikey! IPA FAQs
What is Reuben’s Brews Crikey! IPA?
Crikey! is Reuben’s Brews’ flagship West Coast IPA, first canned in 2014. It is a 6.8% ABV, 53 IBU IPA built on pale, caramel, wheat and carapils malts, hopped with Citra, Amarillo, Simcoe, Centennial, Mosaic and Azacca.
Has Crikey! IPA won any awards?
Yes. Reuben’s Brews says it is the most award-winning IPA the brewery has produced, and it took the World’s Best IPA title in the American Style category at the 2022 World Beer Awards, plus a Gold medal in the 2025 competition.
Is Crikey! IPA available on Saucey?
Yes, as of our check it is stocked on Saucey for delivery to the Seattle, WA area, priced at $17.49 for a 6-pack of 12oz cans. Stock will vary by delivery zone, since Saucey’s inventory is store-specific.
What does Crikey! IPA taste like?
Per the World Beer Awards judges’ official tasting note, expect bright citrus and lemon rind aroma over bready malt sweetness, a malt-forward flavour layered with tropical fruit, guava and grapefruit pith, and a long, resiny, bitter finish balanced by underlying malt sweetness.
Where to buy Reuben’s Brews Crikey! IPA
Crikey! IPA is a year-round Reuben’s Brews release, most consistently found on tap and in cans across the Pacific Northwest. For delivery, we confirmed it is stocked on Saucey in the Seattle, WA delivery zone at $17.49 per 6-pack of 12oz cans – one of the very few World Beer Awards IPA category winners (2018-2026) that shows up on a mainstream US delivery app at all. Reuben’s Brews’ own site (reubensbrews.com) lists Ballard taproom availability and wholesale distribution across Washington and neighboring states.
The verdict
Crikey! IPA earns its reputation as Reuben’s Brews’ signature beer: a classic, well-balanced West Coast IPA with a genuine international judging record behind it, including the outright World’s Best IPA (American Style) win at the 2022 World Beer Awards. It is also, refreshingly, one of the few IPA category winners from that competition’s history that a US drinker can realistically buy rather than just read about – confirmed in stock on Saucey for Seattle-area delivery. If you like traditional West Coast bitterness over hazy juice-bombs, this is worth tracking down.
FAQs
Who makes Reuben’s Brews Crikey! IPA?
Reuben’s Brews Crikey! IPA is brewed by Reuben’s Brews (independently owned).
What kind of beer is Reuben’s Brews Crikey! IPA?
Reuben’s Brews Crikey! IPA is a West Coast IPA, at 6.8% ABV.
How much alcohol is in Reuben’s Brews Crikey! IPA?
Reuben’s Brews Crikey! IPA has an ABV of 6.8%.
Is Reuben’s Brews Crikey! IPA gluten free?
No. Like most traditional beers, Reuben’s Brews Crikey! IPA is brewed from barley and/or wheat, both of which contain gluten.
How can I make Reuben’s Brews Crikey! IPA taste better?
Serve it at the right temperature and in the right glass (see below), or use it as the base for a beer cocktail. Our beer cocktails guide has recipes worth trying.
Where is Reuben’s Brews Crikey! IPA made?
Reuben’s Brews Crikey! IPA is brewed by Reuben’s Brews in Seattle, Washington.
What is a good alternative to Reuben’s Brews Crikey! IPA?
If you can’t find Reuben’s Brews Crikey! IPA, Breakside West Coast IPA is a close alternative in the same West Coast IPA category.
How do I open Reuben’s Brews Crikey! IPA without a bottle opener?
A lighter, a sturdy key, a spoon, or the edge of a table all work in a pinch. See our full guide on opening a beer without a bottle opener for 8 methods that actually work.
What glass should I use for Reuben’s Brews Crikey! IPA?
A standard pint or tulip glass works well for a West Coast IPA like Reuben’s Brews Crikey! IPA. See our beer glassware guide for style-by-style recommendations.
