First City
Alvarado Street Brewery

 

Clear bright yellow with plenty of foam in the tumbler. Aroma of evergreens and a whiff of pineapple. Just a slight malt sweetness without much malt flavor. Flavors of lemon and some grapefruit, but less of the pith. Pleasantly hop flavored but not aggressively bitter. Aromatics last into the aftertaste along with some modest dark astringency. Overall this is a drinkable and almost mellow brew for an IPA. But why not? Three nights in a row I've had barely tolerable over-hopped concoctions, all from Oregon, I'm sorry to say. From the 16 oz can dated 09/19/25.

West coast style. Light, somewhat flora hop aroma and a softer fruity floral sip. Low bitterness. Another easy drinking westy. Enjoyed at the Salinas brewpub.

Can from Ale Arsenal. Hazy, milky golden, soft bubbly head which fades fast. Fruity, citrus aroma, some tropical notes. taste follows with more juiciness, sweet, small bitter bite reminiscent of a yellow grapefruit. They call it west Coast, I call it New England, either way it’s pretty good.

Can poured into an Alvarado Street Brewery Willi Beecher glass

A: Pours slightly hazy golden yellow with a frothy pale beige head that settles to a firm layer and laces beautifully.

S: Ripe tropical and orchard fruit, candied citrus, a hint of melon, biscuity malt, and caramel sweetness.

T: Citrus, almost candied orange plus lemon lime, ripe tropical and orchard fruit, lots of gooseberry (probably the cleanest I've ever gotten from any Citra hopped beer) papaya, mango, guava, nectarine, and apricot, a hint of melon, faintly grassy, biscuity malt, and caramel sweetness.

M: Medium body, moderate carbonation, soft on the palate, slightly creamy.

O: Not exactly what I think of when I hear West Coast IPA, but I've come to learn that this is just their take on that style. A couple more IBUs would be welcome, but what is there is damn good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can dated "DRINK FRESH CANNED 032217" into a nonic pint.

L: Pours light golden with subtle haze and 1 finger of low-medium density white head with minimal retention and left spotted lacing.
S: Very tropical and citrus nose, perhaps also some hints of pineapple. Dynamic and very enjoyable, plenty of Citra in there.
T: Follows the nose well, with perhaps more citrus emphasis. Finishes with plenty of astringency, mild bitterness, astringency lingers a bit.
F: Light bodied with medium carbonation, bit of a silky feeling on the tongue.
O: Enjoyed immensely, wishing it was easier to find in the Sacramento area. Definitely will repeat.