West Coast IPA Thread

Another vote for Happy Hops as the RR sleeper. They had 12ers in the cooler last time I did pickup there.
My localish IPA go-tos lately have been Henhouse and New Glory. Hexegenia when I see it.
For grocery store beers, besides the Alphadelic, the Bubble Stash is decent too. My Oregon friends poo poo Hop Valley because apparently they sold to Miller Coors, but... It's good value IPA.

 

Well now I've got.to check out Happy Hops, I know I've had it (or.think I have) but honestly I'm just in that pig n Pliny mindset when I have access to Russian river

And speaking of Hop Valley, check out Stash Panda for a sleeper hit. A friend shared it with me, its an IPA with grapefruit (maybe peel?) added, but it was actually done with a bit of restraint and was a surprisingly refreshing IPA. It's on here as a neipa but its definitely not. And ya, great value hops for sure

 

Pliny 4 President is super cheap and fits this. So I guess enjoy?

 

Pizza Port x Beachwood Beach Retreat is a gotdamn WC IPA powerhouse.

 

@jakecattleco , figured I'd post this here cause.the tasting thread is closed.

I actually read the new label on hexagenia this morning and it specifically calls out citrus flavors as well as "low bitterness" so I'd say the rebrand did come with a reformulation. Not a bad beer but definitely lowered bitterness and amped up citrus flavors and soft/juicy qualities.

Be interested to hear your thoughts, and I'll definitely revisit it to confirm this suspicion, but I fear it may be RIP to hexagenia as a classic west coaster

 

I don't get it, I thought Hexegenia sales were pretty solid for them. Not every damn beer needs to be made Fn juicy and hazy...ugh

They also didn't do Hoppy Camper this year, in the servers words at the Redding tasting room "because IPLs dont sell". That's a shame as I really liked it. So how long before Widowmaker is hazy with lactose...WTF

They just better leave Lip RIPA damn well alone!

 

That'll be pitchfork worthy behavior right there

What they do need to do with lip ripa is put it in anything smaller than a bomber. And release it more often.

 

The original Hex was such a nice, classic American ipa, it's too bad they felt the need to jump on the juice train. It was never a super bitter IPA, but I liked its malt suppleness and clean, moderately bitter finish.
When did the change happen? I don't think I've had the newer recipe.
Around April this year I got an off batch. Huge yeast chunks, which I normally don't mind, but it had a metallic note and some diacetyl. I didn't get all self righteous and send it back or anything; when that happens once I'll assume there was a glitch somewhere or my own palate was tweaked for some reason. I give it some time and try again, so I'm due for a 4 pack now.

 

YES! If Deschutes can put Black Butte XX... into a 4 pack of 12oz bottles, I'm hoping others follow suite.

 

I noticed the new labels about 5 or 6 weeks ago (the can wrap material is different, the background brown is slightly different hue, and the name on the can went from "Hexagenia" to "Hex") but it was all on 19.2 oz cans. This batch was packaged in early June, could be the first batch packaged in 16 oz cans with the new labels

 

Also, can we just get a little more rye in the malt bill? I don't need a shelf full of rye ipas but it would.be nice to have it as an option more often

 

Had a The Stoke is no joke from HS over the weekend and thought it was great. Strata and Simcoe is a great new wc combo

 

Actually Nightlife is Nelson, Citra, Mosaic, Amarillo from what I've been told. But yes, it's awesome. And very Nelson forward.

 

They recently re-canned Foam Top so a can release of Melrose might not be far-fetched, with that in mind and the whole COVID situation. I fucking hope so.

 

They posted a picture of a Melrose can a while ago, so I think it will happen

 

Any sitings in the east bay yet?

 

Just finished my last can of SLICE Beer Co "WOMBO" Triple IPA.

Damn Good West Coast. Maybe a little hot outside yesterday for 10%...lol. Mosaic and Simcoe hit. I can see how this won PEOPLE'S CHOICE at the Bistro IPA Festival.

 

Guess I’ll answer my own question: it now is popping up at the usual suspects, including Trader Joe’s (wasn’t sure if the collaboration aspect would change the typical Pizza Port distribution, but seems not). Grabbed some today and looking forward to trying it.

 

I grabbed some at Holy Water in SF and can confirm it's the real deal.