June Gloom is the hazy IPA from Gravity Heights, the San Diego brewpub opened in 2019 by Skip Virgilio, the award-winning brewer who founded AleSmith. The name nods to the gray marine layer that hangs over San Diego in early summer, and the beer was one of the opening lineup’s hoppy anchors. Our notes listed it at 6.5% ABV and 45 IBU; the verified ABV is 7%, and no IBU is published for it. On Untappd it holds a 3.84 average across nearly 3,000 ratings, and BeerAdvocate reviewers average it at 4.06 out of 5, so the crowd rates it a little higher than we did.

The basics

• Brewery: Gravity Heights (San Diego, CA)
• Style: Hazy IPA (New England IPA)
• ABV: 7%
• IBU: Not published

What to expect

June Gloom pours a hazy golden orange with a white head, the kind of opaque pour the style promises. The aroma is big and juicy, with intense citrus leading the way. On the palate, expect tropical fruit and lots of citrus, with citrus rind notes that give the beer an edge and keep it from tasting like straight orange juice. The body is soft and medium weight, and the finish is wonderfully dry, which is the beer’s best trick: it clears the palate and leaves you ready for the next sip instead of coating it in sweetness. Bitterness is present but gentle, more of a rind-like grip than a sharp bite. It is a well-executed hazy IPA from a brewer who knows the style, even if it never quite breaks away from the pack.

Our rating

5.9/10

Rated by Nick (5.9). Nick gave this one a 5.9, and we think that lands about right. June Gloom is a solid, well-made hazy IPA with real citrus character and a dry finish we liked, but it never gives us a reason to pick it over the many strong hazies brewed in San Diego. It is an easy recommendation at the Gravity Heights brewpub, where it is fresh and in its element, and a pass on a crowded store shelf.