West Coast IPA
West Coast IPA is the classic American IPA: clear, golden, dry and firmly bitter, with pine, grapefruit and resin from hops such as Cascade, Centennial, Simcoe and Columbus. It is the opposite of a hazy IPA in almost every way, and it has returned to fashion in the 2020s.
Food pairings
- Curry
- Tacos
- Strong cheese
Glassware and serving temperature
Tulip or shaker pint45 to 50°F (7–10°C)
What it tastes like
Grapefruit, pine, resin and a sharp, clean bitterness, over a light malt body that stays out of the way. The finish is dry and the beer is clear. Alcohol is 6% to 7.5% ABV and bitterness is 50 to 70 IBU.
Where it comes from
San Diego and the Bay Area made the style in the 1990s: Stone, Green Flash, Ballast Point and Russian River all pushed hops and dryness further than the English original. Through the 2010s hazy IPA took over, but in the 2020s brewers returned to the clear, bitter style with newer hops.
How to serve it
7–10°C in a tulip or shaker pint, and fresh. Bitterness lasts, but the aroma does not.
What to eat with it
Spicy food, curry, burgers, tacos, barbecue and strong cheese. The bitterness scrubs fat from the palate.
