We’ve all heard it: “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” But usually, that’s because Vegas Beer parties are notorious for being a neon-tinted blur. On my last trip to the Strip, I encountered a beer that fits that “lost weekend” vibe perfectly—the Voodoo Ranger Juice Force IPA Beer.
Beer Name: VooDoo Ranger Juice Force IPA
Manufacturer: New Belgium Brewing Company
Origin: Colorado, USA
Company Founded in: 1991
Beer Type: Imperial IPA
SRM (Colour): 15
Abv (Alcohol) : 9.5%
IBU (Bitterness): 30
Visiting Vegas in January, you’d expect things to have cooled down after New Year’s, but the city never truly sleeps. I found myself at an office party where the atmosphere was electric and that’s where I first met the “Orange Can.” In a city built on spectacle, Voodoo Ranger Juice Force fits right in. It’s loud, it’s bold, completely unorthodox IPA and it’s a bit of a gamble if you aren’t prepared for that 9.5% ABV kick.
The Beer Pour & The Vibe
Pouring a slightly hazy light gold with a thick, foamy head, Juice Force doesn’t look like a 9.5% ABV monster. The aroma is an absolute ‘fruit bomb’—it explodes out of the glass with tangerine, apricot, mango and pineapple. It smells less like a beer and more like a high-end cocktail bar at 2:00 AM.
The Beer Taste: Fruit Punch with a Punch
This is a New England Imperial Hazy IPA that drinks more like a high-end cocktail than a traditional brew. The experience is “cocktail-style,” with flavors that feel almost artificially accentuated—booming with a Tropicana-style blend of pineapple, orange and mango. Despite the massive 9.5% ABV, the alcohol heat is shockingly undetectable on the palate, making it a medium-bodied, “fruit bomb” that is dangerously easy to slam.
While the fruit dominates the front with intense sweetness, the finish eventually unfolds to reveal a hint of hoppy bitterness and smooth, earthy grains.
It’s a powerhouse of flavor where the esters are overwhelmed by the juice, creating an enjoyable, well-integrated profile that stays manageable despite its sheer intensity.
The Beer Verdict
Is it an “authentic” IPA? If you’re a purist looking for typical IPA, look elsewhere. But if you want to slam something delicious that gets the job done fast, this is the #1 selling craft beer launch in US history for a reason. It’s a 9.5% ABV blast that tastes like fruit punch.
This beer is “beginner-friendly” in flavor but “expert-only” in strength. It’s delicious, but at 9.5%, it’s a one-way ticket to a blurry Vegas morning.
The VooDoo beer Mission: Live Rangerously
Voodoo Ranger isn’t just a label; it’s a masterbrand launched in 2017 to kill the “beer snob” culture. Their skeletal mascot—that sarcastic, fun-loving anti-hero—reminds us not to take craft beer too seriously. While other breweries were getting stuck in the weeds of technicality, Voodoo Ranger was busy making “candy for adults” and having more fun than everyone else.
Juice Force was such a runaway success that New Belgium turned it into a full-on high-octane dynasty. All of these clock in at 9.5% ABV:
- Juice Force: The Hazy OG.
- Fruit Force: The “Fruit Punch” sequel.
- Tropic Force: Pineapple and island vibes.
- G-Force: The newer, supercharged juicy addition to the lineup.
About New Belgium Beer Brewing
Founded in 1991 by Kim Jordan and Jeff Lebesch in Fort Collins, Colorado, New Belgium has grown from a basement operation into a national powerhouse. With flagship breweries in Fort Collins, CO, Asheville, NC, and Denver, they’ve managed to stay a “Force for Good” (they’re a Certified B Corp!) while dominating the IPA market with the Voodoo Ranger series.
