Surly Mango Axe Man IPA

 Surly Mango Axe Man IPA.

7.2 % ABV, 65 IBU, Surly Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Bright orange, mostly clear, lasting ivory head. 

In the nose: bold and vibrant, bright and beautiful. Fresh fruit galore!

In the mouth: Juicy and fruity from the start, with bitterness creeping in. Axe Man is down here, with mango hanging over. Me, I’d like a little Ed’s of the mango and more of the IPA. It’s not too sweet, just getting in the way. 

I think this doesn’t have enough mango, and it would still be too much for me. This bitterness is there, I’d just prefer it without the fruit. 

The already-intense tropical fruit, berry, and citrus profile of Axe Man gets amplified with a mango addition. 

Town Hall Brewery Truffala Trip West coast IPA

 

Town Hall Brewery Truffala Trip West coast IPA. 

7.2 % ABV, Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Clear, bright golden color, large ivory head. 

In the nose: bold citrus and pine. 

In the mouth: bracing bitterness starts it off, urging another sip. Clean, crisp, bursting with hoppiness. Smooth and supple malt bill delivers a light and lovely mouthfeel. Orange meets mango. 

Quite tasty. This is exactly what I want in an IPA.

Inspired by modern West Coast IPAs, leaning on hop influence from throughout the whole process for aroma, flavor, and bitterness.

BlackStack Focus Group:Simcoe Single Hop West Coast Style IPA

 BlackStack Focus Group:Simcoe Single Hop West Coast Style IPA.

7.1% ABV, BlackStack Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Clear, bright golden, slim white head.

In the nose: highly hopped, floral, slightly tropical tones, with a whiff of grapefruit, Sauvignon blanc, and litter box. 

In the mouth: high bitterness, bold hops, with a long, dry, abrasive finish. My kind of thing. That pop of white wine mingled with citrus and pine. Goes down nice and easy, with a pinch of sweetness/ fruitiness to match the bitterness. 

I like it. 

Before we get to the beer, I just need to get your opinion on a couple things. Focusing all of our attention on simcoe hops. Can I get a show of hands on who’s ready to crush one of these bad boys?

Wandering Leaf Patio Fernature IPA

 Wandering Leaf Patio Fernature IPA.

6.6 % ABV, Wandering Leaf Brewing, St. Paul, I.

Clear, bright golden hue,slim ivory head, leaving lace. 

In the nose: bold, hoppy, citrus and pine. Orange, grapefruit, lime.

In the mouth: bracingly, beautifully, bitter, fresh and zesty, popping with hops. More fruit, Medium bodied, mouth-filling, ultimate quenching and refreshing. Nails the American IPA style. I’d have this one again and again. 

Pipeworks Wongo Mongo IPA

 Pipeworks Wongo Mongo IPA. With Citra, Galaxy & Mosaic hops. 

7.3 % ABV, Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, IL.

Clear, bright golden hue, snowy white head. 

In the nose: Citra dominates, it’s Citr-Ruffin, everything you want in an IPA. Bold fruit, bright bitterness. 

In the mouth: hoppy and smooth, mild bitterness, bursting with fruity notes on the palate. Juicy citrus up front, ending on a dry note. Thoroughly delightful. 

We brewed this Galaxy and Mosaic hopped easy sipper for a good pal. These suds are best shared with buds and pair well with throwing threes, unless the high hop aroma has you rolling cee-lo. Either way, here’s to a 456. 

Belching Beaver West Bestern West Coast IPA

 Belching Beaver West Bestern West Coast IPA. Brewed with Simcoe, mosaic, strata & Idaho 7 hops.

7 % ABV,  91 IBU, Belching Beaver Brewing, Oceanside, CA. 

Clear, bright golden hue, large, lace-leaving ivory froth.

In the nose: grapefruit, lemon and pine. Bold citrus hop bouquet.

In the mouth: brisk blast of bitterness on the palate, slowly turning down and finishing dry. Lean bodied and loaded with hops. Approachable for the style, though: an easy drinker with a consistent hoppy edge. Ends crisp, dry, fruity, delicious. 

Road trips. Beer festivals. Airport bars. Celebrations. 2 AM taco runs. Some things are just best enjoyed with friends – and for this West Coast IPA we’ve combined forces with some of the Best-in-the-West for this 3-way brew collaboration, Westbound & Down Brewing Company and Craft Coast Beer & Tacos. A resinous IPA loaded with Mosaic, Simcoe, Strata, and Idaho 7 hops that showcases exactly what makes the West best. Grab a friend, crack some cans, and stay a while. We’ll leave the light on.

Dangerous Man Rye IPA

 

Dangerous Man Rye IPA.

6.5 % ABV, 55 IBU, Dangerous Man Brewing, Maple Lake, Minnesota. 

Clear and copper-y colored, under a large , lusivory head. 

In the nose: hoppy, malty, spicy, an intriguing mix. Rye dominates, but I dig it. Earthy, slightly sweet.

In the mouth: bright hoppiness, small bitterness, quickly swallowed up by rye malt sweet and spice. Bready, earthy, hearty. Loads of character and flavor in this, a style rarely attempted. Not my favorite style of IPA, but I can appreciate it and I’m glad someone trots one out once in a while. 

Summit Saga Juicy IPA

 Summit Saga Juicy IPA. 

5.2 % ABV, 55 IBU, Summit Brewing, St. Paul, Minnesota. 

Clear, golden hued, bright ivory head atop.

In the nose: lovely hopping, citrus and spices notes.

In the mouth: nice bit of bitterness up front, sliding off a tad near the end of the swallow. The juicy part rises up on the palate and blends with the bitter. Swims happily in the mouth, goes down nice and easy, but never lets you forget it’s an IPA. Ends dryly. Highly likable. 

Currently only available in the Saga Goddess Series variety pack. 

Castle Danger West Coast IPA

 Castle Danger West Coast IPA.

7% ABV, Castle Danger Brewing, Two Harbors, Minnesota. 

I’m at the last can of the six pack, time for note-taking. Or, my procrastination imp whispers into my ear, just drink it up and buy more tomorrow. Nope, not today, imp!

Clear, bright golden toned, fresh ivory head atop.

In the nose: burst of hop aroma from the start, citrus and pine aplenty. All the things I like. 

In the mouth: brisk, bitter, dank and dry. Perfect West Coast, light bodied, just enough malt, just enough out of balance. Grapefruit, lemon, lime and pine paint the palate. Delicious hop bitterness hangs long on the palate. 

Okay, I will definitely get some more of this, gonna add it to the regular rotation. Need to reward these guys for making it a year-round. 

Meet our West Coast IPA! Immerse yourself in a medley of citrus, pine, and resin, embracing the authentic West Coast hop experience. Picture savoring the bold blend of grapefruit, zesty orange, and a hint of pine resin, creating a taste sensation that’s pure West Coast. With a crisp and bitter finish that hits the mark, our West Coast IPA embodies the classic flavors that make this style iconic. Here’s to bringing the West Coast vibes to the North Shore!

Pryes Glamorama West Coast IPA

 Pryes Glamorama West Coast IPA.

6.5% ABV, 55 IBU, Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Clear, bright golden hue, large ivory head. 

In the nose: big time citrus and pine. Popping with grapefruit and tangerine. Lively aromatics. 

In the mouth: starts out bitter and sharp, then in comes the juicy. Dry on the palate, like any good WCIPA should be. Not as fully dry brittle and bitter as I want, nay demand, but, eh, close enough. I’ll take it. 

Go on and be bold. Shine big. Step out. Sparkle? Hell yes. While you're at it, welcome in the citrusy blast and the bit of mighty hops that pop like paparazzi. This is Glamorama.

Fat Head Green Grunge IPA

 Fat Head’s Green Grunge IPA. 

6.5% ABV, 65 IBU, Fat Head’s Brewery, Middleburg Heights, Ohio.

Clearish, bright golden hue , hearty white head on top,

In the nose: super dank, pine and citrus, right on the money. 

In the mouth: vibrancy hop flavors explode in the mouth, powerful bitterness on display on the palate, nice and dry. Beautifully drinkable, if you’re a hophead in need of their fix. And I often am. Fierce hop delivery in this one, thoroughly enjoyed. Thanks, Ed!

This heavy hitting IPA goes against the grain to give you a raucous hop experience. It’s loaded with Chinook and Citra hops lending grungy notes of grapefruit, berry, and citrus rind with a smooth piney, spicy bitterness that invokes classic American “C” hop character. 

MetroNOME Squeeze Play East Coast IPA

 MetroNOME Squeeze Play East Coast IPA.

7.3 % ABV, MetroNOME Brewery, St. Paul, MN.

Is the name a baseball reference, from this music themed  (and gnome themed) brewery? Since I have to ask, you can tell I’m not a sports fan. I have to wonder why, when this heart of mine would rather see jazz pop up in beer more often. 

Also, I have to wonder what they mean by East Coast IPA. There used to be East Coast IPAs, and they were maltier than this, closer to English IPAs. And they shouldn’t be confused with New England IPAs, naturally.

Clear, golden hued, slight white head. 

In the nose: bright and fruity, floral, citrus and tropical. 

In the mouth: crisp and clean, smooth and easy drinking. None too bitter and pleasingly flavored with hoppiness. Just a little juicy, a merest touch of sweetness. An amiable beverage to while aware sixteen bars, or sixteen ounces, at a time. 

Flavor Notes: Tropical on the nose and fruity on the mouthpiece. A great low-bitter IPA for wetting the whistle before belting out a few bars of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame”

I’ll bet this description was penned by brewer and horn player Kevin Welch himself. I’m also betting this is best consumed at St. Paul Saints games. 

Pizza Port Swami’s India Pale Ale

 Pizza Port Swami’s India Pale Ale.

6.8% ABV, 72 IBU, Pizza Port Brewing, Carlsbad, CA.

Clear, bright golden hue, large and lasting ivory head. 

In the nose: highly vibrant, abuzz with hoppiness zes . Citrus and pine aplenty. Grapefruit and lemon.

In the mouth: Light-bodied but rich in hoppy flavors. Big bitterness blazes the palate. Citrus notes abound. Flavors never quit. Finish lasts forever. Quintessential West Coast IPA. I will have this one again and again. 

They’ve been making this since 1992? I certain never had a beer like this back then. We didn’t have IPAs like this around here in those days. Was SoCal keeping it all s secret? 

Another mystery is: when I visited the brewpub in 2004, did I have this? There’s no way of knowing, but, probably. I’d previously had my first Pliny at O’Brian’s. What a time for my tongue. 

Swami’s IPA was first brewed in 1992 to commemorate one of our favorite local surf breaks nestled below a spiritual enlightenment temple that sits on the cliffs above. This West Coast style IPA features a timeless American hop profile of citrus and pine with a crisp balanced finish. It’s a dream come true to be able to share so many pints over time as we all evolve together. Whatever your form of meditation is, we hope that each and every sip contributes to your own self-realization…Cheers!

Hops: Chinook, CTZ, Cascade, Centennial, Citra, & Simcoe

Coronado El Rollo India Pale Ale

Coronado El Rollo India Pale Ale. West-Coast style IPA. Collaboration with Pizza Port Brewing. 

7.2 % ABV, Coronado Brewing, Coronado, CA. 

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: fragrant, zestful, Citra-tasting. Utterly lovely. Lemon alights upon grapefruit to intermingle. 

In the mouth: pow! Hop bitterness hits from the first sip. Citrus notes meet the taste of the tropical. Fresh and vibrant, delivering shock after shock of hoppy delights with each new gulp. Lean bodied and delicious. Leaning dry, with a touch of sweetness. 

I like my West Coast IPAs bone-dry and brittle, but I can also enjoy variations such as this. West Coast is surely the best coast. 

 

Falling Knife The Long Highway Cold IPA

 Falling Knife The Long Highway Cold IPA.with HBC 586 and Simcoe hops. 

7.3 % ABV, Fallible Knife Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

I don’t review Falling Knife’s beers very much these days, for one main reason: my ban on hazies. It seems that it’s all they ever release. Well, now here’s a Cold IPA. Didn’t I ban those once, too. Let’s see if I can remember why. 

Clear, pale golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose; soft and citric. 

In the mouth: light bodied, slight bitterness, appropriate levels of hoppiness, easy-drinking and most assuredly refreshing. Some citrus, some stone fruit. Maybe a little melon? 

I think I remember why I stopped writing about Cold IPAs….there’s not much to say about them. 

Fulton Hop Kingdom American IPA

 Fulton Hop Kingdom American IPA .

5.8% ABV, 35 IBU, Fulton Beer, Minneapolis, MN.

Something new in the brand family. 

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: fresh zest, citrus notes, moderately hopped.

In the mouth: more moderation in the name of refreshment. Crisp and fairly clean. Mild and easy going, medium bodied with a good measure of hop bitterness. Sure, I can see this as a boat beer, a dock beer, even a pier beer. 

This one came as part of the latest Hop Kingdom. Variety pack, replacing Juicy IPA. 

In the land of 10,000 IPAs, this cooler beer is a real catch. Crafted for unspooling lakeside stories of lures and lore – balanced hop notes of Citra, Galaxy, and Motueka marry sweet grapefruit piths and bitter orange peel for an American IPA fit for the walleye capital of the world.

Perennial Perpetual Waves West Coast Style IPA

 Perennial Perpetual Waves West Coast Style IPA.

6% ABV, Perennial Artisan Ales, St. Louis, MO. 

Clear, bright golden hue, large and lush ivory head. 

In the nose: intense hopping, dry, floral, bursting with botanicals. 

In the mouth: dry, brittle, full of hop bitterness. Clean, lean bodied, long, bitter finish. Fresh and lively, just a little juicy, not quite bone dry. Delicious approximation of a WCIPA. I may have to go back for more. 

West coast style IPA with burts of light citrus and a dry pine finish. Inspired by the ocean & the relentless energy of the surf, this brew captures the essence of the coast in every sip. 

Back Channel Ballooney Bin West Coast India Pale Ale

Back Channel Ballooney Bin West Coast India Pale Ale. 

7% ABV, Back Channel Brewing, Spring Park, MN. 

Well, all right, now, Back Channel made a beer that I might actually like. Let’s see how this goes. 

Clear, deep golden hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: vibrant piney notes with citrus on the side. Grapefruit and orange peel, with a squirt of lime. 

In the mouth: bitter and resinous at once, bursting with hoppy goodness. Sufficiently dry, clean and bitter. Medium bodied, with a long, bitter finish, lasting long on the tongue. 

This isn’t exactly how I like my West Coast IPAs, but I’m happy with how close they get. There’s a touch to much sweetness in it. I always want it dry and brittle. 

Can I get this one in a bowl?

Montgomery Suncoast West Coast IPA

 Montgomery Suncoast West Coast IPA.

6.7 % ABV, 48 IBU. Montgomery Brewing, Montgomery, Minnesota.

Clear, golden hue, large and lasting ivory head.

In the nose: fruity and floral, grapefruit and orange. Citrus notes galore. 

In the mouth: bitter bite up front, with citrus splashes throughout. Bright and lively. Light bodied, well balanced and easily consumed. Does a body good. 

I love a good ol’ IPA, with neither fuss nor muss. . And this is one. 

Introducing SunCoast West Coast IPA, a true embodiment of the sun-drenched shores and adventurous spirit of the West Coast. Crafted with a meticulous blend of Cascade, Mosaic, Idaho 7, and Strata hops, this beer offers a bold and invigorating flavor profile that is sure to captivate IPA enthusiasts.

Luce Line Hard Tail West Coast IPA

 Luce Line Hard Tail West Coast IPA. 

7.1% ABV, Luce Line Brew Co, Plymouth, MN.

And here we have the first appearance of Luce Line in the Nib. Hopefully, not the last.

Clear, bright golden hue, slim, white head. 

In the nose: pine, citrus, grapefruit peel, essence of orange.

In the mouth: bitterness abounds on the palate, lingering through the finish. Crisp, clean, snappy. Light bodied and delicious. At last, a West Coast IPA that actually tastes like one. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. 

Hard Tail IPA, a reimagining of our house West Coast IPA. Brewed with a light malt bill and hopped in the kettle with Columbus and Simcoe, Hard Tail is dry hopped over multiple stages with Simcoe, Centennial and a huge helping of Citra hops.