West Coast IPA
Green Flash Brewing Co.

West Coast IPAWest Coast IPA
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From:
Green Flash Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
American IPA
Ranked #96
ABV:
7%
Score:
94
Ranked #2,460
Avg:
4.22 | pDev: 10.43%
Reviews:
1,936
Ratings:
8,095
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 29, 2024
Added:
Mar 26, 2005
Wants:
  476
Gots:
  2,068
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
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Msh2960:
Photo of Msh2960
Rated by Msh2960 from Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

Jul 22, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of mpk2020
Rated by mpk2020 from Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Draft at City Kitchen in Pittsburgh
Feb 29, 2024
 
Rated: 4 by Nyoder

Nov 26, 2023
Photo of Greymane
Reviewed by Greymane from France

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I remember my first Green Flash IPA was on draft at Pizzeria Paradiso off Dupont Circle in DC. It must have been around 2008, and it was at the time the best IPA I'd ever tasted. Having it to complement a hot wood-fired pizza didn't hurt either. It was the first to have the distinctive Simco grapefruit peel aroma.
Oct 30, 2023
 
Rated: 4.37 by TheWaySheGoes from Illinois

Sep 10, 2023
 
Rated: 4.15 by ctbeerman1 from Connecticut

Sep 01, 2023
 
Rated: 4.07 by vabeerguy from Virginia

Aug 23, 2023
Photo of LesDewitt4beer
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

4.29/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12 oz can enjoy by date 10/24/23 into a pint glass.
L: Pours deep amber honey color with a 3/4" crusty, frothy off white head that has VG retention, very light carbo, some sticky lacing.
S: Caramel malts, berries, citrus, pineapple, mango, fairly floral.
T: Caramelized malts, citrus, ripe orange, grapefruit, berries, melon, black tea leaves, honey, a hint of bread, has a slightly resinous finish that retains a bit of sweetness.
F: Soft, smooth med-body with a slick & glassy middle and a mellow med-long finish that is lightly drying.
O: A lovely tasting beer with excellent balance. It has a light touch of honey throughout and has a very light resinous quality. Incredibly easy drinking for its ABV. It is outstanding in its style.
Aug 01, 2023
 
Rated: 4.98 by Schraeder49 from Wisconsin

Apr 28, 2023
Photo of NeilSilber1
Rated by NeilSilber1 from California

4.27/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours golden yellow with white foamy cap and light notes of pine and back notes of citrus grapefruit and floral. Really nice classic IPA.
Apr 15, 2023
Photo of TheBricenator
Reviewed by TheBricenator from Oregon

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, 2022
 
Photo of detgfrsh
Reviewed by detgfrsh from Texas

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, 2022
 
Rated: 4.26 by Dcwbba from Pennsylvania

Dec 09, 2022
 
Rated: 4.02 by dms1767 from Nebraska

Oct 20, 2022
 
Rated: 3.97 by SViterileroux74 from Texas

Aug 13, 2022
 
Rated: 3.71 by QuintusHorace from California

Jul 23, 2022
 
Rated: 3.5 by beefbucket from Missouri

Jul 14, 2022
 
Rated: 4.06 by Hawkfish from Washington

Jun 05, 2022
Photo of JohnniEMc
Reviewed by JohnniEMc from Pennsylvania

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, 2022
West Coast IPA from Green Flash Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 8095 ratings