Soko Bag West Coast IPA
Soko Bag Korean Fried Chicken & Beer

Soko Bag Korean Fried Chicken & Beer "Soko Bag's West Coast IPA"
16 fl. oz. can without production codes or freshness dating
$16/4-pk @ Soko Bag on 9 August 2025

Notes via stream of consciousness: All of the Soko Bag beers are brewed by Animated Brewing in Coatesville, PA. It's poured a very hazy amber colored body beneath a finger's width of creamy off-white foam. The aroma is citrusy and piney as expected. This, right off the bat, seems like an old school West Coast IPA except that those would have been clearer. On to the taste then... I am correct, there's nothing new going on here, just some C-hops including Cascade and probably Columbus and Chinook. I'm getting tangerine, grapefruit, soft pine, earthiness, black pepper, licorice, and spice. The malt is bready, lightly sweetish, and moderately caramelish. There's some more fruit to it as well, including apple, and some pear, and I think perhaps some melon so maybe there are some newer hops in play. It's solidly bitter but it finishes with lingering fruitiness, a fading malt, and then earthy, peppery, and spicy notes that bring it to the ultimate dry conclusion. In the mouth it's medium bodied and crisp. This is a decent beer overall, and in many ways I appreciate that it's mainly old school because use not too many places do those anymore, but it's not great. I bought a 4-pack and I'll enjoy them all, but it lacks a certain je ne sais quoi.
Review #9,262