![]() ![]() ![]() When dialed in, a West Coast IPA is distinct in that it should be crystal clear and boldly dank like a big ol’ bag of cannabis with pine, hop, floral, citrus, onion, and fruit notes. For some, that last note is a deal-breaker as it can lumber into a body odor note. Then there needs to be a distinct hop and pine resin funk that leans towards an often over-ripe garlic/onion combo. First, there needs to be a clear fruity nature that according to the Brewer’s Association definition is “berry, tropical, stone fruit and other.” There should be floral notes alongside citrus. It’s about what’s present in that hoppy nature that makes a West Coast IPA what it is. So, yeah, that’s a whole lotta bitter.īut it’s more than just bitterness. Pliny the Elder - a stonecold classic West Coast IPA - has an IBU of 100. In a standard West Coast IPA (that is, one that isn’t dry-hopped or not a double IPA or triple, etc.), the IBUs, or bitterness units, should be between 50 and 70 but can edge into the low 100s. The maltiness is dropped out almost entirely so that the bitterness of the hops can shine. The hopping is generally achieved with the abundance of hops grown in the West Coast, especially in Washington State (though Southern hemisphere hops are used on occasion). This is the star of the show for a West Coast IPA. The malts used tend to be dialed into malted barley with few exceptions. As with all ales, this is a top-fermented beer using ale yeasts in warmer temperatures (as opposed to lagers which are bottom-fermented with lager yeast and cooler temps). This is a clear beer with a golden color that ebbs towards copper in some iterations. So, let’s dive into what makes New England IPAs stand out, not above, the classic West Coast IPA.Ī West Coast IPA is American-Style IPA if you want to be super technical. We all have our go-to beers but are also easily enticed when a new sip comes along with an exciting look and feel. But the flavors and look of these beers can be massively divergent, even though they’re both technically “ India Pale Ales.”Īs with all things, personal preference does not equate to higher-quality or something being somehow “better.” It comes down to taste, palate, nostalgia, and what’s new now. Yes, they’re both malts, water, yeast, and hops combined in a specific ale-orientated order. These beers may be cut from the same cloth but have very little in common. Memes aside, the West Coast/East Coast beer division is legit. ![]() In the process, the dank West Coast IPA has lost some of its shine. These days, New England IPAs are what everyone seems to be brewing, drinking, and talking about. Then along came an East Coast beer to ignite a new West Coast/East Coast rivalry akin to Biggie Smalls asking ‘Pac “who shot ya?” In fact, you could argue that the power of these hop-driven, often piney beers helped launch the craft beer industry on its current trajectory. Not that long ago West Coast IPAs were all the rage. ![]()
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