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There are not many transatlantic collaborations and of those, us L.A. beer fans don’t see them on store shelves. But maybe we will see the West Coast IPA, Under the Trees from Thornbridge and Urban Roots since they are from the state capital.
If you wanted to build an IPA dream team, starting with Beachwood Brewing and Firestone Walker would be a solid choice.
I like the old travel to the Golden State bear on the label as well.
Oh how I remember AM radio. Static. Lots of it. Mumford Brewing has a new classic IPA.
I really like the light, gauzy colors and also that it is an “old-fashioned” IPA.
Eagle Rock Brewery has unveiled their 2022 Pink Boots collaboration. Here is the beers mission statement, “We love collaborating with the ladies of Pink Boots and fiercely support their desire to assist, inspire, and educate women in the fermented/alcoholic beverage industry.”
And here is the beer description, “Bootsy is a West Coast IPA that is bright and clean, with crispy tropical notes. Coming in at 6.3% ABV, this is the perfect beer to ring in the warmer weather!”
Time to break out the slide rule and protractor because Beachwood Brewing has a new West Coast IPA coming tomorrow!
Filled with Idaho 7, Loral and Pahto hops. Let me get my calculator before buying this.
Offshoot Beer Co. has a couple of romantic tinged IPAs for that summer wedding….
Once Upon a Time is a Hazy IPA bursting with flavor with enchanting aromas of watermelon, hard candy, and a mix of tropical fruits with a citrus kiss. One taste of this tropical medley, mixed with a hint of sweet jolly ranchers and a long citrus peel finish, and you’ll be ready for any adventure. ⠀
Happily Ever After is a West Coast IPA, pouring a clear straw color that you might just spin into gold. With bewitchingly delicious citrus and pine aromas, the palate rings true to style with a classic piney, earthy, dank flavor, finishing with a citrus medley. ⠀
Another great site for beer content in Los Angeles, Hopped LA, has re-started their Ranked series of podcasts starting with a show about the West Coast IPA. And while it is easy to quibble about which brewery landed where, I find it useful because it is not the normal, run-of-the-mill clickbait.
It is more a discussion and the inherent silliness of these rankings is acknowledged to get to the Why and Which beers are the rationale for who is at #4.
Another point that was brought up that I found a good tool, is to group breweries into tiers. I have seen it done effectively for sports and it is a good method to use when creating your own internal or loudly spoken opinion.
Give the show a listen. No spoilers here but the 1 and 2 are pretty unassailable.
For 2018, LA Beer Week has sibling IPA’s. Here is the official BSP reviews:
Juicy IPA
Pours a pretty and barely hazy orange. This one has Mandarina over the west coast Simcoe. Has a full, fuzzy mouthfeel to it. Aroma is piney and dank to me. Little tingle on the mouth. I did not store the can upside though so maybe that is the issue. Getting a bit of mango and pineapple but not in heavy doses.
West Coast IPA
Pours a super clear and very light orange. Has a lovely floral meets citrus aroma. Honeysuckle maybe. Smooth and medium bitter. Getting orange zest notes. Very easy drinking. Hops coat the roof of the mouth.
The Verdict – Go for the yellow orange can.
One of the best traditions of L.A. Beer Week is the release of the yearly Unity. It is a collaboration worthy of the Los Angeles County Brewers Guild.
This year we have twins as on June 6, 2018 there will be a dual-can release. Los Angeles Ale Works is the lead brewery for 2018 and they have created both a hazy and West Coast IPA.
Here are the details from the L.A. Beer Week website, “Both beers clock in at 7% ABV and will take on flavors of El Dorado and Idaho 7 hops, but the west coast and east coast will also feature Simcoe and Mandarina Bavaria hops respectively. The west coast is fermented with the classic Cali 01 yeast strain while Sach Trois was utilized for the juicy version. The recipes result in a classic, dry west coast IPA with a dank finish for the west coast and a softer, full-bodied hazy IPA with lower bitterness and a tropical finish.”