Barrio Citrazona IPA Review

Barrio Citrazona IPA Review – Citrus Flavor Meets Arizona Craft Beer

There’s something about a cold beer and a hot Arizona afternoon that just makes sense. But when that beer happens to be an IPA, I have a few questions before I get too excited.

I’m generally not an IPA guy. I prefer wheat beers and pilsners, and I don’t particularly enjoy a beer that leaves my mouth full of bitterness. So when I come across Barrio Citrazona IPA from Barrio Brewing Co. in Tucson, Arizona, one thing immediately gets my attention: the brewery describes it as an IPA that doesn’t overwhelm your palate.

Now that’s a promise I want to explore.

What’s Inside Barrio Citrazona?

Citrazona is an American-style citrus IPA featuring three hop varieties: Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe. Together, these hops create the beer’s distinctive citrus aroma, with tangerine notes taking the lead.

Here’s what I find interesting about this combination. Citrus flavors don’t necessarily mean a brewery adds oranges or tangerines to the beer. Hops themselves can produce aromas and flavors that remind us of different fruits.

That’s one of the things I appreciate about craft brewing. A few carefully selected ingredients can create flavors that seem completely unrelated to the ingredients themselves.

According to Barrio Brewing Co., Citrazona finishes clean without the lingering bite that some IPAs leave behind.

6.6% ABV and 58.5 IBU – What Do Those Numbers Mean?

I’m not someone who chooses a beer based entirely on numbers, but I do pay attention to them.

At 6.6% alcohol by volume, Barrio Citrazona carries a little more strength than many everyday lagers. That’s something I keep in mind, especially when I’m looking for a casual, easy-drinking beer.

Its 58.5 IBU rating also tells me this isn’t a beer without bitterness. IBU measures bitterness, but it doesn’t tell the whole story about how bitter a beer actually tastes.

For me, the important question is whether the citrus character and malt balance help make that bitterness enjoyable. I don’t mind some hop flavor. I just don’t want it dominating everything else.

Why Tangerine Makes This IPA Interesting

When I think about citrus beers, I usually expect flavors associated with oranges, grapefruit, or lemons. Tangerine brings something slightly different to the conversation.

That bright, orange-like aroma is one of Citrazona’s defining characteristics. Barrio Brewing specifically highlights its tangerine notes, which makes the beer interesting to anyone who enjoys citrus-forward IPAs.

I also appreciate the brewery’s emphasis on a clean finish. To me, a beer’s finish is just as important as its first impression. If the aftertaste hangs around longer than I want, it can ruin an otherwise enjoyable beer.

Citrazona aims to deliver noticeable hop character without that lingering harshness. Whether it succeeds for my particular taste buds is the real test.

Citrazona vs. My Usual Beer Choices

If I’m standing at a bar looking at a tap list, my eyes usually go straight to the wheat beers and pilsners. Those styles are my comfort zone.

But I also believe in giving different beers a fair opportunity. Just because something has IPA on the label doesn’t mean I automatically dismiss it.

Citrazona interests me because it approaches the IPA style with an emphasis on citrus aroma and a cleaner finish. It still has a respectable bitterness rating, so I don’t expect it to magically taste like a light lager.

What I want to know is whether its citrus character makes the hops more enjoyable for someone with my preferences.

And that’s what makes reviewing different beer styles worthwhile. I don’t have to love every beer to appreciate what a brewery is trying to accomplish.

Is Barrio Citrazona Worth Trying?

If you enjoy citrus-forward IPAs, Barrio Citrazona certainly deserves your attention. Its combination of Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe hops creates a flavor profile designed around tangerine aromas and a clean finish.

For someone like me, who generally prefers less bitter beers, Citrazona presents an interesting challenge. Its citrus character sounds appealing, but the hop bitterness remains an important part of the experience.

I don’t judge a beer simply because it belongs to a style I don’t normally choose. I want to understand what makes it different and why other beer drinkers enjoy it.

That’s why I approach Citrazona with curiosity rather than making up my mind before the first sip.

Citrazona Fans – Help This Arizona IPA Climb the Rankings!

Here’s something I really want to know: how popular is Barrio Citrazona among everyday Arizona beer drinkers?

I’m only one person, and my preference for wheat beers and pilsners doesn’t determine whether an IPA deserves recognition. That’s where you come in.

If Barrio Citrazona is one of your favorites, I encourage you to support it on AZ Beer Drinkers.

Every vote contributes to the beer’s rankings, helping other people discover which Arizona craft beers receive the most support.

No registration. No account. Just find your beer and vote!

And remember, you can vote for Citrazona once every day.

Vote for Barrio Citrazona IPA Now!

Because at the end of the day, I don’t decide which beers are Arizona’s favorites. You do.

Editor

Brandon LaVere — Founder of AZ Beer Drinkers

AZ Beer Drinkers is a beer discovery website built to help people discover local breweries, explore different beer styles and see which beers other Arizona beer drinkers are voting for.

Through AZ Beer Drinkers, Brandon combines local beer discovery, community voting, brewery features and his own perspective as he explores Arizona’s beer scene.

His goal is simple: help people discover more Arizona beer while giving local breweries and businesses another way to get discovered.