In case you haven’t heard, Pablo is back. Launched last Saturday, the return of this epic collab between Superflux Beer Company and Boombox Brewing Co. is causing a ton of buzz and is tasting better than most of us remember (which is saying a lot). The well-deserved winner of the People’s Choice Award at the 2016 BC Beer Awards, the last time this beer was produced Superflux was still called Machine Ales, Boombox was the hot new associate brewer at Callister Brewing Company, and a former Harvard law professor was still in the White House. Good times. Since then, this gorgeous North East IPA has developed its own mythology and lore, the stuff of bragging rights and foggy, late-night eulogies. But considering how good that last batch was, and the stellar reputations that Superflux and Boombox have garnered over the last few years, the hype probably shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise.

And while there may be a lot of phenomenal local collabs coming out right now, something about Pablo is just that little bit extra-special. It’s kinda like this limited-edition Superman and Spiderman comic I got when I was a kid that totally blew my 5-year- old mind: two epic worlds colliding, two mysterious heroes working together for the greater good. Because if you didn’t already know, Superflux and Boombox share a similar origins story – both started out at Callister, and both are now brewing small batches at local facilities to rave reviews, and crafting some of the best IPAs you’ll find anywhere. Two transient brewers without homes, roaming our fair city like the Littlest Hobo and sharing on-point IPAs with the appreciative, thirsty masses.

Coming out of the block with a juicy burst of dank grapefruit and clementine that’s perfectly rounded by a mildly sweet, biscuitty malt base, this latest batch of Pablo Esco Gnar has a light, silky mouthfeel and is tasting absolutely amazing right now, so there’s no need to sit on it and wait for Pablo to mellow (not that I’d ever suggest sitting on Pablo). I managed to grab a few four-packs at the release, and drinking a Pablo to some King Tubby in the garden sun this past Saturday was my first, bona fide ‘spring is finally here’ moment of 2018. Pretty epic stuff.

And the best news of all? They made a ton of it (just look at those pictures!), so be sure to grab a few four-packs of Pablo as soon as you see it this week. It’s fully deserving of the hype.

Images via Superflux and Boombox