West Coast IPA

Introduction – by Firkin Ron

The term beer style refers to a broad set of descriptors used to differentiate and categorize types of beers. Descriptors such as color, flavor, strength, ingredients, production method, recipe, history, and origin create the framework for establishing a beer style.

And almost any time you buy a beer, the beer lists its style on the packaging. Why? To provide the buyer with a basic preview and understanding of the beer’s look, smell, taste and drinkability.

Today there are hundreds of documented beer styles. Furthermore, a handful of organizations created their own unique classifications. However, the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) provides one of the most commonly used set of style guidelines.

This week’s beer style overview features West Coast American Style IPA (or West Coast IPA for short).

West Coast IPA – by Owen Ogletree

Hazy, juicy New England-style IPAs often contain wheat, oats, or other cereal adjuncts to aid in haze production, and hops are added late in the boil to maximize hop flavor and minimize bitterness. Long before haze became a craze, relatively clear West Coast-style IPAs were the rage. These American IPAs contain around 5.8-7.5% ABV and are normally made with 100% pale malt, with maybe just a hint of caramel malt in some examples. Citrusy, piney American hops are tossed in throughout the boil of a West Coast-style IPA, providing an impressive depth of hop aroma, flavor and bitterness that leads to a lingering, pleasant, dry, hoppy finish. If you are not a fan of bitter IPAs, please keep sampling and training your palate. In my opinion, a West Coast IPA’s crisp hop bitterness is a thing of beauty.

Comrade Brewing Company’s “More Dodge Less Ram” won the 2019 Great American Beer Festival Gold Medal for American Style IPA (West Coast-Style IPA). Photograph courtesy of Comrade Brewing Company.

 

 

About Owen Ogletree

Owen is founder/editor of Brewtopia LLC. In addition, he is columnist for Southern Brew News and Beer Connoisseur Magazine, lecturer at Knoxville’s Brewing & Distilling Center, founder/director of the Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting and Classic City Brew Fest, and a BJCP National Beer Judge. Owen has also served as a beer judge at the Great American Beer Festival and the Great British Beer Festival.