-
Stop lurking! Stay logged in to search, review beers, post in our forums, see less ads, and more. Thanks! — Todd
West Coast IPA
Green Flash Brewing Co.


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Green Flash Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- American IPA
Ranked #96 - ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 94
Ranked #2,502 - Avg:
- 4.22 | pDev: 10.43%
- Reviews:
- 1,933
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 31, 2022
- Added:
- Mar 26, 2005
- Wants:
- 472
- Gots:
- 2,066
SCORE
94
Outstanding
94
Outstanding


Notes:
As craft beer pioneers, we embarked on an expedition to brew the benchmark West Coast IPA. We ventured into the unknown and struck gold, discovering a tantalizing menagerie of hops. Simcoe for tropical and grapefruit zest, Columbus for hop pungency, Centennial for pine notes, Citra for citrus zest and Cascade for floral aroma are layered throughout the brewing process. West Coast IPA® exemplifies the Green Flash spirit of adventure and discovery.
95 IBU
Prior to 2014: 7.3% ABV
2014 to 2019: 8.1% ABV
2019 and on: 7.0% ABV
95 IBU
Prior to 2014: 7.3% ABV
2014 to 2019: 8.1% ABV
2019 and on: 7.0% ABV
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by TheBricenator from Oregon
4.17/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.17/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Look: Ruby-red and nearly clear with a bountiful off-white head that settles to a lid, leaving good lacing behind
Aroma: Grapefruit – both white and ruby-red, pine sap and needles, a little Cannabis, wafts of berries, and some sweet onion
Taste: Pine hits hard up front and develops as citrus and some berry notes follow closely behind and weave in nicely. Fruity and lightly skunky Cannabis notes appear as the pine/citrus subsides and onion stays in the background throughout. Closes with a bite along with more pine and grapefruit
Mouthfeel: Full, lightly slick, medium-high carbonation, and moderate dryness on the finish
Overall: This is delicious stuff. This beer got me into Simcoe hops 15 years ago and I used to drink it all the time until it ceased being bottled and distributed in the state. Glad to see it still gets tapped now and then and was a nice surprise birthday gift from my boss
Dec 31, 2022Aroma: Grapefruit – both white and ruby-red, pine sap and needles, a little Cannabis, wafts of berries, and some sweet onion
Taste: Pine hits hard up front and develops as citrus and some berry notes follow closely behind and weave in nicely. Fruity and lightly skunky Cannabis notes appear as the pine/citrus subsides and onion stays in the background throughout. Closes with a bite along with more pine and grapefruit
Mouthfeel: Full, lightly slick, medium-high carbonation, and moderate dryness on the finish
Overall: This is delicious stuff. This beer got me into Simcoe hops 15 years ago and I used to drink it all the time until it ceased being bottled and distributed in the state. Glad to see it still gets tapped now and then and was a nice surprise birthday gift from my boss
Reviewed by detgfrsh from Texas
3.93/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From a can. Amber color with an inch of white foamy head. Earthy pine smell. Medium body with some stickiness. Earthy pine flavor with some grapefruit notes. Solid WCIPA.
Dec 29, 2022Reviewed by JohnniEMc from Pennsylvania
4.02/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Only photos could describe the foamy white mess that rises above the top of a clear glass liter mug. It’s that pathetic. Really, no beer pour, especially an IPA should ever have this much stark white starchy foam pretending to be a head. This is the consequence of trying to fit two twelve ounce cans' contents into the vessel. With patience, the foam recedes and there becomes almost a true beer head. Obviously, there are concerns, as big white foamy and starchy heads often lead to taste and mouthfeel disappointments. The aroma is of OK piney hoppiness; but, so far, it's looks over aroma and looks have a big negative lead. The color isn't the problem. It's a rich and bright dark amber that's close to being translucent. Actually, it's a pretty good looking brew once the head recedes. Much as expected, this is a nicely West Coast hopped rendition, without much of a malt inclusion to carry it via its body, nor to give it a counterbalance so necessary for a great IPA. The ratings here may be inconsistent, but that sums up the brew. There's good color, but bad lacing. There's a nice sharp piney hop bite, but no malt balance, nor backbone. This isn't bad and the tastes of those that want hoppiness, even at the expense of a malty presence, will like this. To taste, it's a nicely dry hopped ale. To anyone that loves a traditional IPA, the lack of barley malt in the mix will spoil this.
Apr 25, 2022Reviewed by milkshakebeersucks from Maryland
4.18/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.18/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Slightly hazy, rich amber appearance with a generous, fine bubbled head that left rings of good lacing. Big time piney, resinous hop aroma, some citrus, with an initial hit of sweetness that fades after a few moments. Medium bodied with just the right amount of carbonation. The profuse amount of hops engage the palate from the start well into the lingering, long lasting finish
Mar 21, 2022Reviewed by DavetotheB from Pennsylvania
4.3/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.3/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
From a 12oz can dated 12/13/21 into a pint glass.
Pours a translucent brownish orange with about a half finger of with head (gentle pour). Ok retention and lacing.
Smells of fresh cut grass and pint. Also got a hint of marijuana.
Piney, resiny, bitter taste. 95 IBUs in their glory-Right in the wheelhouse for a WCIPA. Some malts in there as well-bit of caramel.
Very sticky mouthfeel-full bodied. Strong bitter aftertaste. Medium carbonation.
This is a WCIPA. Hit the mark squarely. And stinking enjoyable too.
Mar 05, 2022Pours a translucent brownish orange with about a half finger of with head (gentle pour). Ok retention and lacing.
Smells of fresh cut grass and pint. Also got a hint of marijuana.
Piney, resiny, bitter taste. 95 IBUs in their glory-Right in the wheelhouse for a WCIPA. Some malts in there as well-bit of caramel.
Very sticky mouthfeel-full bodied. Strong bitter aftertaste. Medium carbonation.
This is a WCIPA. Hit the mark squarely. And stinking enjoyable too.
Reviewed by highdesertdrinker from Arizona
4.15/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.15/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Haven’t had this in almost 10 years so here go: pours a deep, dark gold with decent head. Smells of grapefruit and herbal hops. Tastes like grapefruit rind, melon, orange, strawberry, it’s bitter, and a little herbal with a string malt base. A little dry, also, and very drinkable and balanced. Whether this is close to the beer I had back in 2012 is hard to say, and I’m way more tolerant of hops now than then, but this is good and I’ll buy it again, cheers!
Jan 09, 2022Reviewed by Dan2213 from Pennsylvania
4.35/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.35/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
An outstanding example of the style, West Coast IPA. Pours an inviting amber/orange with 1 finger of foamy off white head. Nose is full of pine needles and citrus. Taste follows the nose. Grapefruit and Pine, rounded out by Carmel malt with a dry and bitter finish. Worthy of its outstanding rating.
Oct 24, 2021Reviewed by TheBrewsClues from California
4.1/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
An all-around great IPA, bursting with citrus and tropical flavors amidst its dry hops. The rich orangey-amber color is particularly inviting. A solid, if not exceptional west coast IPA.
Aug 05, 2021Rated by ThePold from Virginia
4.55/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.55/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
fresh 6 from MD; excellent WC IPA
Jun 21, 2021Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
4.21/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.21/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
355 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.3%. Orange to amber colour, moderate head, slightly off-white. Lovely and intense aroma of citrussy American hops, hits you as soon as the bottle is opened. Also notes of tropical fruits and pine. Some sweetish malts in the background. The flavour is neither too sweet nor too dry, and is a veritable hoppy explosion from start to finish. Grapefruit, bitter orange marmalade, pine needles, resin. A classic!
Mar 19, 2021Reviewed by Jaasoares from Virginia
4.16/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.16/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a tulip glass. Pours a deep clear orange hue with half an inch beige head. Plenty of hops, pine on the nose. Taste is of tropical fruit with the bitterness of grapefruit. Pine, citrus. Very drinkable and interesting IPA...well balanced for the blend of hops.
Feb 07, 2021Rated by Paradox1000 from Florida
4.1/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Excellent IPA, but not a double. Latest versions are more around 7%.
Jan 17, 2021Reviewed by biiru_ojisan from Japan
3.75/5 rDev -11.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -11.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a crystal clear dark gold with a creamy white head.
Smells like sweet biscuit maltiness with pine and tangerine.
Sweet biscuity malt on the palate, finishing with a nice drying pine bitterness and a hint of grapefruit.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Alcohol warmth is present, but blends in.
Overall, a solid, textbook example of the style. It will scratch the itch if WCIPA is the itch that you have.
Nov 16, 2020Smells like sweet biscuit maltiness with pine and tangerine.
Sweet biscuity malt on the palate, finishing with a nice drying pine bitterness and a hint of grapefruit.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Alcohol warmth is present, but blends in.
Overall, a solid, textbook example of the style. It will scratch the itch if WCIPA is the itch that you have.
West Coast IPA from Green Flash Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
94 out of
100 with
8087 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!