Online Tasting: West Coast IPA (August 7 & 8, 2020)

Great idea! I'll definitely try to participate with a few different beers. Hopefully I can find a few classics along with some local craft options to compare.

 

As I posted in the "Ideas" thread, I plan on doing a side-by-side comparison of iconic California WCIPAs with MN-brewed IPAs.

Finding "classic style" WCIPAs (still) brewed in MN was a bit of an investigative and advice-seeking exercise, since the MN IPA scene has long been dominated by the so-called Midwest style, at least before the haze took over.

If anyone from MN or the upper midwest (or from anywhere, for that matter) wants to compare tastings with the MN selections, the list I have settled on is: (for now... nothing is definite until I make the purchase...)

Sculpin vs Axe Man
Stone IPA vs Steel Toe Size 7
Union Jack vs Badger Hill Traitor
Laguinitas IPA vs Utepils Tall Tails

(Relying on advice in part because I've never had any of these... they will all be new to me.)

 

Should be a fun one. I'm going to try to get a lineup that runs from the classics through to the new wave WC ipas. The style was one of my first loves and I've enjoyed the journey from pine/citrus pith all the way the citrus rind/tropical fruit in real time. It should be fun to run through it (or at least attempt to) in one go

 

If we were living in normal times, and I hadn't recently ordered a bunch of beer to be shipped to me (none WCIPAs), I'd be all over this tasting. But as things stand I'll probably have to pass.

 

Oh hell yes.

 

Stone IPA when fresh is a tremendous beer, no shot with Union Jack if it’s fresh it’s 4-5 months old. Ill grab some fresh Pernicious, and put it head to head with any WC IPA. Or Two Hearted Ale, love that beer too, better on tap imo.

 

Beers in mind (Alpha order within category)

Beers in the refrigerator
AleSmith IPA (Miramar San Diego, CA)
Firestone Walker Union Jack (Paso Robles, CA)
Maplewood The Sound (Chicago, ILL) - New pour for me
Phase Three Terrazzo (Lake Zurich, ILL)
Pipeworks Ninja vs. Unicorn (Chicago, ILL) - This one a borderline WCIPA (cues Madonna)
Spiteful IPA (Chicago, ILL)

Beers I want and may get
Cigar City Jai Alai (Tampa, FLA) - New pour for me (I'm not sure this is a true WCIPA)
Lagunitas IPA (Chicago, IL)
Sierra Nevada Torpedo (either Mills River, NC or Chico, CA) - New pour for me
Additional Beers TBD

Beers I really really want but are out of reach now in Chicago (My Big Three WCIPAs)
Beachwood Amalgamator (Long Beach, CA)
Russian River Pliny The Elder (Santa Rosa, CA or Windsor, CA)
Spiteful 10/9 Bike Messenger Appreciation IPA (Chicago, IL)

Planning stage


Celebration during first pour


12 beers in

 

Considering I'll be on vacation those days *and* I've been craving some hops, it's time to revisit Torpedo and Sculpin.

Until then, happy hop hunting, BAs!

 

I just finished the last of a two hearted four pack. I hadn’t had it for a while, it’s about as perfect as an ipa gets for me. I haven’t had sculpin in ages, this is a good reason to go buy some. Hopefully I find it not super old 2-3 month old I’ll be ok with. But if it’s much later I’ll try and find another west coast one I haven’t had in a while.

 

Sculpin is long gone, it didn’t sell well here, agree on Two Hearted, I’ve never ever been disappointed, and it’s always 4-5 weeks old. On tap it just pops like crazy.

 

Will try to pick up 16 + oz cans of the ones I don't have.

I believe the Amalgamator/Citraholic listed (without a price), if they ever had, was from the one time Fall drop before FOBAB.

Beachwood finally got into Nevada this year (they entered Oregon a few years ago and I believe Denver), and doesn't go beyond, outside of one time drops. PtE gets to Philadelphia, no reason it can't make it here (ditto Heady Topper which dropped in Denver last month).

The recommended similar beer under Tap Hunter for Amalgamator is Lagunitas Super Cluster, which I may pick up (though not for WCIPA tasting) with Lagunitas Maximus, which I would categorize as a WCIPA and a pour I like better than their standard IPA.

Also, for other posters comments. I love Bell's Two Hearted, see it as a great IPA, but not necessarily a WCIPA.

 

How bout Racer 5

 

I can see this getting a little muddy, as beers like Two Hearted and some others I would not consider to be WC. But then again is Torpedo, an original WC beer as far as geography is concerned, even truly a WC IPA when you think about it?

I'm so confused

 

That's a great choice!

Here were the beers discussed / nominated prior to creation of this thread:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/commun...astings-idea-submission-thread.476806/page-13

I'm sure all of us may quibble about specific beers being true "WCIPA" pours. The proof will be in the pudding, or more specifically the pictures and tasting notes. The community has a chance to review and decide whether these are others are WCIPAs or close cousins, and the qualities which make these beers poor, OK, good, very good or excellent or "World Class".

I'm excited to try nationally known brands for the first time, showcase local and national favorites, and learn about other beers I haven't considered or come across. WCIPA is definitely one of my favorite styles, and I can't wait for the tasting to begin.

 

i think that as long as a beer features hop bitterness as a central flavor component and is basically clear then it fits well into the wc ipa wheelhouse. To me, the whole 'midwest ipa' thing is really just a midwestern take on the wc ipa, basically just a bit more malt body. Nothing justifying a different style

 

And a bit less bitter.

But, for that matter, neither does WCIPA justify a different style. They are both sub-styles of "IPA - American".

The list in @FBarber's OP sets a benchmark, a common point of reference.

 

Sure does, and I think Two Hearted fits right into that benchmark. Honestly the friendly parsing of the minute at the edges of the west coast sub style is one of the parts of this tasting I'm most looking forward to. Lots of fringe examples out here that are clear, somewhat bitter, but made entirely with modern aroma hops. Quite excited to try some of those next to some standard bearers