Super West Coast

Like most people who became immersed in the craft beer scene in the early 2000’s the term “IPA” was synonymous with the bold, bitter and brilliantly clear ales coming from the West Coast of the USA. By the year 2010 breweries from all over the country were seeing how far they could push the boundaries of bitterness in a beer. Dubbed the “IBU War” driven by the “Lupulin Threshold Shift” where beers once thought to be extremely “hoppy” tasted bland compared to the massive hop bombs being pumped out by the now exploding American craft beer revolution, brewers everywhere were pushing the style to extreme levels. 

Right around that time the hop growing industry was releasing exciting new strains from the Pacific Northwest that were saturated with immense amounts of juicy and tropical aroma producing oils. Brewers in New England, who for the most part embraced a less extreme brewing culture than their brethren in the West started producing soft and pleasing IPAs that shunned bitterness and focused on the aroma potential of the new vanguard hops. Thus was born the “Hazy IPA” which turned the term “hoppy” on its head. 

The “haze craze” was a boon for brewers and beer drinkers alike. Juicy, soft IPAs were just so much more accessible flavor wise and their enchanting appearance along with the rise of Instagram aligned for the perfect storm for “craft beer” to finally breakthrough into the mainstream consciousness. 

Super West Coast is our ode to the origins of the American IPA that embraces the new techniques and ingredients learned about as we were perfecting our hazy offerings. Yes, this beer is bitter but not so much to be considered a “tongue scraper” or “palate wrecker”. No, this beer is not hazy but a heavy dry hop of Citra, Simcoe and Sabro drive the spectacular aroma and the clean clear finish allows a clearer vision of the hoppiness to shine. What’s old is new again. 

Pair this beer with heavily spiced dishes like curries, stir fries or chicken wings to compliment the hop complexity. 

---