You don’t need to travel the world to learn how to brew an IPA, but if you want to brew a GREAT one, it definitely helps. Take a swig of Been There Done That and you’ll have proof!

Casita Brewing’s co-owner Ryan Witter-Merithew spent 13 years cutting his teeth at respected breweries in Denmark and England. When he came back to the states, he met his now-wife, Mahalia, and they spent a few years together honing their skills at the great Hill Farmstead in Vermont. After a while of contracting out their own recipes, they opened Casita in Mahalia’s hometown of Wilson, North Carolina just last year. 

Now, they put their world-class expertise on full display with brews like Been There Done That! 

Casita crafts this once-a-year release with wheat, tons of oats, and a dash of dextrose in the base, ensuring an ultra-soft mouthfeel with full-bodied drinkability. Then, they dose the silky juice with heaping helpings of Simcoe, Mosaic, and Citra Hops.

With each succulent swig, it coats the palate in robust flavors of zesty orange upfront, with notes of pithy grapefruit rind and lemon meringue in the mix. In the middle, there’s a blast of ripe mango, some tangerine flavor, and a solid hint of sticky pine resin. The finish is dry, with more citrus zest flavor inviting you back in.

Locals practically charge the taproom like a herd of wildebeests every time this annual release makes a comeback. Ask anyone who’s tried it, and they’ll almost always agree that this is one of Casita’s best. Period. The end.

The good news is, today, you don’t have to have been there at the taproom to say that you’ve done that, too.

Rated 4.21 on Untappd