Western Sun
Social Project Brewing

16oz tall boy can courtesy of Russpowell. It's the variant that's been dry hopped with Simcoe hops (there's also apparently a variant that's dry hopped with Idaho 7).

Poured into the glass, it was a clear golden amber color, with a big, sudsy, creamy looking eggshell-white head. Lots and lots of lace. Beautiful beer!

Citrusy, piney, stonefruit-y hop nose. Although Amarillo hops were used before the dry hopping, it's the simcoe hops that leap out at the nose.

I feel like the Amarillo hops come out to play a bit in the taste, whereas in the nose, it seems all Simcoe. There's a sweet citrusy note in the flavor that doesn't seem present in the nose, and I'm ascribing that to the Amarillos. The overall happiness is not really that particularly strong in the taste. I suspect a version of this brewed by, say, Fremont or Bale Breaker would have a stronger hop bite. Still, it tastes very good, despite the apparent restraint shown. Unlike a number of Midwest and East Coast attempts at a WCIPA, the brewers at Social Project didn't go overboard with the malt bill. A WCIPA, IMHO, is supposed to have the bare minimum of maltiness that still supplies some sort of contrast to the hops, and that mission was definitely accomplished here.

Medium bodied, with a lightly oily, lightly resiny mouthfeel.

Not quite a big West Coast IPA like I'm used to, but still very tasty stuff. I feel like I could happily drink several of these if given the chance. Thanks, Russ!

Dry Hopped with Simcoe

Pours a pretty hazed gold with one finger of cream colored head. Better than average head retention & lacing

S: Citrus & tropical fruits, fades a touch down the stretch

T: Dry, cakey with some tangerine up front, grapefruit as well. Sweet & bitter orange, plus dryness as this beer warms up, pineyness & some lime as well, cakey sweetness also. Finishes piney with lime & tangerine, plus dryness

MF: Medium body, low carbonation, good balance

Classic Old School West Coast IPA, pretty drinkable