BrewDog Changed Punk IPA. Is It Still the Same Beer?

When BrewDog announced they were changing the recipe for Punk IPA, it was always going to get a reaction. Punk isn’t just another core beer. For a lot of drinkers, it’s tied up with memories of when IPA first clicked, when bitterness still felt like the point rather than something to be dialled back.

I finally sat down with the new version properly and reviewed it on 19th January 2026. I’ve also had the benefit of trying two different batches side by side, one brewed in September 2025 and one from December 2025. Same beer on paper, but very different in character once you get into it.

 

The aroma feels more restrained

The first thing that struck me was the aroma, or more accurately, how restrained it felt compared to older Punk IPA. If you remember the days when Punk used to punch straight out of the glass with pine and resin, that’s not what’s happening here.

Instead, the aroma is softer and more rounded. There are tropical and citrus notes, but they sit politely rather than shouting for attention. Pineapple comes through first for me, followed by grapefruit and a light touch of lemon. It’s clean, fresh, and pleasant, but it doesn’t have that sharp, aggressive edge that used to define the beer.

The flavour has moved away from that West Coast bite

That carries through into the flavour as well. The old Punk IPA was always very upfront. Bitterness arrived early, pine followed close behind, and the finish stayed dry and assertive. You knew exactly what kind of IPA you were drinking from the first sip.

The new Punk IPA takes a different approach. The bitterness is still there, but it’s been pushed back into the background. Rather than leading the charge, it now supports the flavour. The first thing I get is soft citrus, again grapefruit, pineapple, and a hint of lemon, with none of the harsh pithiness that some drinkers struggled with in the past.

A sweeter malt base rounds it out

What surprised me most was the malt base. It feels more noticeable now, giving the beer a solid sweetness through the middle. Not sugary and not heavy, but enough to round everything off and smooth the edges. It makes the beer feel fuller and more balanced, especially compared to the drier, leaner profile of older Punk IPA.

Why the change makes sense

This is where the real shift becomes obvious. The beer no longer feels like a West Coast IPA trying to make a statement. It feels modern, accessible, and designed to be easy to drink.

And when you take a step back, the reasoning behind the change is pretty clear. A lot of today’s IPA drinkers like hop flavour but don’t enjoy aggressive bitterness. They want citrus and tropical notes without the piney bite. They want balance rather than challenge.

The new Punk IPA is clearly aimed at that crowd.

If you’ve ever found classic West Coast IPAs too sharp or too bitter, this version will likely make a lot more sense to you. The bitterness won’t put you off, the aroma won’t feel harsh, and the malt gives it a reassuring backbone that keeps everything in check.

September 2025 vs December 2025

Trying the September 2025 brew alongside the December 2025 one really highlights just how much has changed. They share the same name and the same branding, but the attitude in the glass is different.

The older beer feels sharper and more assertive. The newer one feels rounder, softer, and more considered.

That doesn’t mean one is objectively better than the other. It just means they’re aiming at different drinkers.

My score and the marmite factor

Personally, I can understand why BrewDog have made this move. If Punk IPA is meant to be a gateway beer, something that brings people into the IPA world rather than pushing them away, the new recipe does that job very well.

That said, it’s hard not to feel that another recipe change like this could make Punk IPA a bit marmite for some long-time fans. Those who loved that upfront bitterness and pine-led punch may feel something has been lost along the way.

For me, though, the beer still holds up. I scored it 8 out of 10 when I reviewed it, and I stand by that. It’s a good IPA, it drinks well, and it clearly knows what it’s trying to be.

It’s just not the Punk IPA it used to be.

Just had a quick thought!  Punk IPA has moved away from being an out and out West Coast IPA style beer, and I wonder if part of that reason is that they have their Counter Strike, but I guess is doing very well in the supermarkets!

Whether that’s a positive or a negative really comes down to what you want from your IPA. If you crave bitterness, bite, and that old-school West Coast edge, the original Punk will always live fondly in your memory. If you prefer softer citrus, rounded flavours, and a smoother finish, the new Punk IPA will probably earn a regular spot in your fridge.

Same name. Same heritage. A very different beer.