Isla Nublar IPA at Islands of Adventure: Is It Worth $13.50?

A brand-new IPA has landed in the Jurassic Park section of Islands of Adventure, and if you’re anything like us, the name alone had you reaching for your wallet before you even checked the price. The Isla Nublar IPA is available exclusively in the Jurassic Park area, and at $13.50, it’s already one of the most talked-about new pours at Universal Orlando Resort. But does it actually deliver on flavor — or is the theming doing most of the heavy lifting?

Where to Find the Isla Nublar IPA at Islands of Adventure

The Isla Nublar IPA is available at several spots throughout the Jurassic Park section of Islands of Adventure. You’ll find it at multiple quick-service windows and outdoor carts scattered across the land. But our top recommendation? Head straight to The Watering Hole.

The Watering Hole sits right in the heart of the Jurassic Park area, and the open-air setup makes it one of the best places in the park to knock back a cold beer. Grab a pint, find a spot near the fence, and watch the guests on the Jurassic World VelociCoaster launch overhead. It genuinely doesn’t get more on-theme than that.

What Does the Isla Nublar IPA Taste Like?

Let’s get into the glass. The Isla Nublar IPA pours a clear, golden amber with a bright, white head that settles quickly — the kind of pour that looks great in the Florida sun and photographs well if you’re into that sort of thing. No haze here; this is a clean, West Coast-leaning IPA in appearance.

On the nose, you get a bright citrus hit — think orange peel and a touch of grapefruit — backed by a light, resiny pine note. It’s inviting without being aggressive. This is a beer that wants to be drunk cold on a hot day, and it’s not pretending to be anything else.

Flavor Notes

• First sip: A crisp, clean malt backbone with a light biscuit sweetness that rounds out the bitterness.
• Mid-palate: Citrus-forward hop character — orange peel and grapefruit zest with a subtle tropical undertone, closer to pineapple than mango.
• Finish: A dry, moderately bitter finish with a resiny pine note that lingers just long enough to remind you it’s an IPA, then fades cleanly.

The bitterness is assertive but not punishing — an IBU level that IPA fans will respect without scaring off the casual craft beer drinker. It’s refreshing in the most literal sense of the word: after a long walk through the heat of Islands of Adventure, this beer genuinely hits the reset button.

Is the Isla Nublar IPA Worth $13.50?

Here’s the honest answer: yes, with context. $13.50 for a theme park IPA is par for the course at Universal Orlando Resort, and you’re not going to find a better-crafted pint in the Jurassic Park area for less. You’re paying for the location, the theming, and the experience as much as the beer itself — and in this case, the beer is actually good enough to hold up its end of the deal.

For pure craft beer value in a vacuum? There are better IPAs for the money outside the park gates. But you didn’t travel to Islands of Adventure to drink in a vacuum. You’re standing ten feet from a dinosaur, and The Watering Hole is playing the Jurassic Park theme somewhere in the background. The Isla Nublar IPA earns its price tag.

If you’re a Jurassic Park fan — and full disclosure, we absolutely are — this beer is almost unfairly enjoyable. The theming adds a layer of joy to every sip that a purely objective review can’t fully quantify. Factor that in however you like.

Isla Nublar IPA: Our Final Verdict

The Isla Nublar IPA is one of the more enjoyable park-exclusive beers currently available at Islands of Adventure. It’s a well-executed, refreshing IPA with real citrus and pine hop character, a clean malt base, and a dry, satisfying finish. It’s not going to win a GABF medal, but it’s a genuinely good beer served in one of the most iconic theme park settings on the planet.

Order it at The Watering Hole for the full experience. Drink it cold. Stare at a velociraptor. Life is short.