Anchor Go West! IPA

Discussion in 'Beer Releases' started by zid, Feb 26, 2016.

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  1. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Anchor quietly(?) released a new version of their IPA. I haven't noticed this beer on their website. I'm posting this thread because I wasn't sure what I was looking at when I saw a bottle in the store. The bottle I bought was bottled at the end of 2015. The label is like their standard IPA but with "Go West!" in the banner. Their IPA seemed out of step with certain drinkers (which isn't necessarily a bad thing) and I bet this new version is an attempt to address this. I can't imagine the new beer winning over people who didn't care for the former. Like the standard IPA, it's very bitter but it's malt presence seemed toned down in comparison.

    http://beerstreetjournal.com/anchor-go-west-ipa/
     
    #1 zid, Feb 26, 2016
    MUTINY likes this.
  2. cryptichead

    cryptichead Grand Pooh-Bah (4,857) Jul 3, 2014 Illinois
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    From the Anchor website:

    "Fast-forward to Go West! IPA™, made with 2-row pale barley malt and dry-hopped with a unique blend of 4 American hops. Its mouthwateringly complex aromas of citrus, pine, and the tropics; spiky bitterness; gleaming golden color; and clean finish unite to create this singular 24-karat IPA. Go West!, where the impossible is possible.

    This brew pours bright, clear golden color with light tan head, has strong tropical and citrus fruit aromas balanced by the spiky freshness of pine needles. You get bitterness up front followed by subtly sweet maltiness, a light body and very smooth finish. You get hop bitterness, clean and fresh, and a hint of sweetness creates a complexity that leaves you wanting more"

    - See more at: http://www.anchorbrewing.com/beer/go_west_ipa#sthash.NgU7mK2T.dpuf
     
    #2 cryptichead, Feb 26, 2016
    zid likes this.
  3. ecpho

    ecpho Savant (1,183) Mar 28, 2011 New York

    Some of us do still like some malt in our beers. I'd try it if I ever saw Anchor around me.
     
    #3 ecpho, Feb 26, 2016
    GetMeAnIPA, beerluvr and zid like this.
  4. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thanks for that. I'd swear it wasn't there a few days ago! :slight_smile:
     
    #4 zid, Feb 26, 2016
  5. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Do you have trouble finding Anchor on LI/NYC?
     
    #5 zid, Feb 26, 2016
  6. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    An intriguing mix of hops used for dry hopping:

    “Dry Hops: Citra, Equinox, Calypso, Eureka!”

    I look forward to trying this beer!!

    Cheers!
     
    #6 JackHorzempa, Feb 26, 2016
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  7. ecpho

    ecpho Savant (1,183) Mar 28, 2011 New York

    Locally in QNS if I'm lucky I'll find a $12-13 6 pack of Steam, so I pass.
    I think if I searched some of the better beverage centers on LI I'd find more at better prices.
    I do love a steam beer and I know the porter is decent - I'd buy Anchor more if it wasn't so challenging.
     
    #7 ecpho, Feb 26, 2016
  8. TEKNISHE

    TEKNISHE Initiate (0) Jan 12, 2011 Pennsylvania

    the hop profile sounds amazing
     
    #8 TEKNISHE, Feb 26, 2016
  9. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Sometimes Anchor is easier to find at establishments that aren't the type to use beermenus. The beer finder on Anchor's site is very good. You can use it to get info on new shipments and get a sense of what stores around you are likely to carry the product.
     
    #9 zid, Feb 26, 2016
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  10. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Jack,

    I grabbed a bottle of this in Philly. I hope it clicks with you better than it did with me. It was off-putting to me at first, but it started to win me over by the end of the bottle... which is preferable to the reverse.
     
    #10 zid, Feb 26, 2016
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  11. ecpho

    ecpho Savant (1,183) Mar 28, 2011 New York

    I really like the Lager too, thanks for pointing out the beer finder.
     
    #11 ecpho, Feb 26, 2016
    zid likes this.
  12. CJNAPS

    CJNAPS Pooh-Bah (2,492) Nov 3, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah

    Had this the other day and thought it was pretty good. Cheers
     
    #12 CJNAPS, Mar 2, 2016
  13. 1000lbgrizzly

    1000lbgrizzly Maven (1,497) Jul 16, 2013 Illinois

    This was a bigtime dud for me. Whereas I could appreciate the historical novelty of their original IPA, this one missed every single mark for me; it was neither hoppy, nor bitter, nor refreshing, nor malty, nor fruity, nor piney, nor spicy, nor any other positive quality. I half expected them to say it utilized 'experimental hops,' a red flag/disclaimer for crappy hops/IPAs/Pale Ales. Anchor should step up their hop game or just stop trying.
    Now who's got the balls to like a post bashing a legendary brewery's product??
     
    #13 1000lbgrizzly, Mar 2, 2016
    mwa423 likes this.
  14. TrojanRB

    TrojanRB Grand Pooh-Bah (3,779) Jul 27, 2013 Texas
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I thought it was quite good. A very different flavor/hop profile than we are used to from Anchor, but retains a characteristic that makes it recognizable as one of theirs.
     
    #14 TrojanRB, Mar 2, 2016
  15. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    My read of your post is that the beer was not big enough for you. Is that the case?

    Cheers!
     
    #15 JackHorzempa, Mar 2, 2016
  16. Schempy

    Schempy Aspirant (281) Oct 8, 2014 Arizona

    I thought this was a tasty, we'll crafted IPA. I'm always looking for a reason to support Anchor but usually there is something else that catches my eye. At $8.99 for a sixer, I'll definitely buy this one again.
     
    #16 Schempy, Mar 3, 2016
  17. 1000lbgrizzly

    1000lbgrizzly Maven (1,497) Jul 16, 2013 Illinois

    Not really. I like subtle beers just as much as I like robust beers. The thing I'm most looking for is well-defined flavors. Each separate tasting of Go West! was a jumbled mess of buttery malt and mild, non-specific hop notes. Flavorful, yes, but muddy and general.
     
    #17 1000lbgrizzly, Mar 3, 2016
    mwa423 and JackHorzempa like this.
  18. Bryanweppner-123

    Bryanweppner-123 Initiate (0) Oct 5, 2014 Illinois

    Chicagoans pay 7.99 a sixer...sad that it's more than that elsewhere.
     
    #18 Bryanweppner-123, Mar 3, 2016
  19. Davidstan

    Davidstan Savant (1,189) May 24, 2014 Alabama
    Trader

    I liked it a lot but it does have the Anchor taste profile which is not a totally bad thing. Glad i bought a full sixer.
     
    #19 Davidstan, May 4, 2016
    Harrison8 likes this.
  20. Harrison8

    Harrison8 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,285) Dec 6, 2015 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Had it last night and thought it was outstanding. I never expect too much out of IPAs in a mix six, but this one far out performed what I thought it would. Everything from the pour to the last sip.
     
    #20 Harrison8, May 4, 2016
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