West is Best: 5 Buzzworthy IPAs
Apr 28, 2021 12:36PM ● By Style
Hoppy, high in alcohol, and brimming with bitterness, West Coast IPAs (India pale ales) are the crowd pleasers of craft beer—especially here in sunny California. Keep reading for five of our favorites.
BY MEGAN WISKUS
Photos courtesy of their respectve companies or organizations.
Cogzilla
Cogzilla
ABV: 8.5%
BREWED BY: *GearTooth Alewerks, 7553 Green Valley Road, Placerville, geartoothalewerks.com,
IG: @geartoothales, FB: @geartoothales
TASTING NOTES: GearTooth’s flagship West Coast double IPA fills the glass with a crisp golden hue and is as balanced as a pale ale. Generously dry-hopped with Mosaic, Citra, and Centennial, the hops erupt into a medley of citrus and stone fruit flavors that give way to notes of resinous pine from Magnum and Columbus in the boil.
*Tasting room and restaurant is scheduled to open this summer.
BREWED BY: *GearTooth Alewerks, 7553 Green Valley Road, Placerville, geartoothalewerks.com,
IG: @geartoothales, FB: @geartoothales
TASTING NOTES: GearTooth’s flagship West Coast double IPA fills the glass with a crisp golden hue and is as balanced as a pale ale. Generously dry-hopped with Mosaic, Citra, and Centennial, the hops erupt into a medley of citrus and stone fruit flavors that give way to notes of resinous pine from Magnum and Columbus in the boil.
*Tasting room and restaurant is scheduled to open this summer.
SR16
SR16
ABV: 8.5%
BREWED BY: Crooked Lane Brewing Company, 536 Grass Valley Highway, Auburn, 530-878-5232, crookedlanebrewing.com, IG: @crookedlanebrewing, FB: @crookedlanebrewing
TASTING NOTES: A fan favorite since day one, SR16—a double IPA that drinks like a single—features Citra and Amarillo hops complemented by a touch of malt complexity with a crisp, dry finish. The bitterness balances out the sweetness from its high ABV, resulting in one of the most drinkable double IPAs around.
BREWED BY: Crooked Lane Brewing Company, 536 Grass Valley Highway, Auburn, 530-878-5232, crookedlanebrewing.com, IG: @crookedlanebrewing, FB: @crookedlanebrewing
TASTING NOTES: A fan favorite since day one, SR16—a double IPA that drinks like a single—features Citra and Amarillo hops complemented by a touch of malt complexity with a crisp, dry finish. The bitterness balances out the sweetness from its high ABV, resulting in one of the most drinkable double IPAs around.
Angry Eagle
Angry Eagle
ABV: 8.3%
BREWED BY: Movement Brewing Company,
11151 Trade Center Drive, Suite 104, Rancho Cordova,
916-389-0046, movementbrewingco.com, IG: @movementbrewing, FB: @movementbrewingco
TASTING NOTES: Bright, crisp, and clean, this double West Coast IPA is a crowd-pleaser. Heavily dry hopped with Centennial and Simcoe hops to layer flavors of citrus with dank and pine character, it stays true to its West Coast title and is bitter yet balanced.
BREWED BY: Movement Brewing Company,
11151 Trade Center Drive, Suite 104, Rancho Cordova,
916-389-0046, movementbrewingco.com, IG: @movementbrewing, FB: @movementbrewingco
TASTING NOTES: Bright, crisp, and clean, this double West Coast IPA is a crowd-pleaser. Heavily dry hopped with Centennial and Simcoe hops to layer flavors of citrus with dank and pine character, it stays true to its West Coast title and is bitter yet balanced.
Call of Lupulhu
Call of Lupulhu
ABV: 8.5%
BREWED BY: Big Sexy Brewing Company, 5861 88th Street, Suite 800, Sacramento,
833-310-4777, bigsexybrewing.com, IG: @bigsexybrewco, FB: @bigsexybrewing
TASTING NOTES: Pronounced "loop-uh-loo," this West Coast-style double IPA is fresh off its Gold Medal win at the 2020 U.S. Beer Open Championship. Piney, it offers notes of pineapple, citrus, and tropical fruits, but don't let the smooth, well-balanced flavors fool you: It packs a boozy punch!
BREWED BY: Big Sexy Brewing Company, 5861 88th Street, Suite 800, Sacramento,
833-310-4777, bigsexybrewing.com, IG: @bigsexybrewco, FB: @bigsexybrewing
TASTING NOTES: Pronounced "loop-uh-loo," this West Coast-style double IPA is fresh off its Gold Medal win at the 2020 U.S. Beer Open Championship. Piney, it offers notes of pineapple, citrus, and tropical fruits, but don't let the smooth, well-balanced flavors fool you: It packs a boozy punch!
Socket Set
Socket Set
ABV: 6.8%
BREWED BY: Red Bus Brewing, 802A Reading Street, Folsom,
916-467-7790, redbusbrew.com, IG: @redbusbrew, FB: @redbusbrew
TASTING NOTES: The West Coast version of Red Bus' famous Jetronic Haze IPA, this beloved beer is loaded with Citra, Mosaic, and El Dorado hops, giving it notes of grapefruit and pineapple with a moderate hop finish.
BREWED BY: Red Bus Brewing, 802A Reading Street, Folsom,
916-467-7790, redbusbrew.com, IG: @redbusbrew, FB: @redbusbrew
TASTING NOTES: The West Coast version of Red Bus' famous Jetronic Haze IPA, this beloved beer is loaded with Citra, Mosaic, and El Dorado hops, giving it notes of grapefruit and pineapple with a moderate hop finish.
BY MEGAN WISKUS
Photos courtesy of their respectve companies or organizations.