The way we see it, there’s no wrong time of year for a hoppy, pleasantly bitter West Coast IPA. This timeless beer style is just at home on a humid, sunny summer day as it is on a cold, dark winter evening. But since there are seemingly countless West Coast IPAs on the market, your best bet is to try some of the OGs.
What is a West Coast IPA?
For those unaware, the West Coast IPA first became popular in California in the 1980s (the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is often associated with its rise). Known for its liberal use of hops like Cascade, Centennial, Citra, and Simcoe (among others), it’s beloved for its mix of malts, citrus, tropical fruit, and dank, resinous pine flavors. One of its major (and more divisive) characteristics is its bitter (sometimes aggressive) hop finish.
It’s a great beer style to pair with get-togethers with friends and family, NFL playoff games, and spicy, sauce-slathered hot wings.
The essential West Coast IPAs
Now that you’ve learned a little bit about the appeal of the West Coast IPA, it’s time to find some of the most essential, memorable West Coast IPAs ever made. As the name suggests, California is its origin and its heart. Therefore, every choice comes from the Golden State.
As a beer writer, I’ve spent two decades drinking and rating beer. These are the best, most timeless choices available today. Keep scrolling to see them all.
Stone IPA
In the pantheon of classic West Coast IPAs, none is as beloved as Stone IPA. Brewed in 1997, it features Magnum, Chinook, Centennial, Azacca, Calypso, Ella, and Vic Secret hops. The result is a surprisingly balanced
$10.99
Lagunitas IPA
Another California staple is Lagunitas IPA. Known for its effortlessly balanced flavor profile, it’s brewed with Crystal, Caramel, and Munich malts. It gets its hop aroma and flavor from the liberal use of Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, and Simcoe hops. Sipping it reveals a symphony of flavors, including grapefruit, orange zest, fresh-baked bread, dank pine, and a caramel malt backbone. The finish is bitter, dry, and highly memorable. This is the kind of
$10.99
Bear Republic Racer 5
No essential West Coast IPA list is complete without Bear Republic Racer 5. This award-winning, 7.5% ABV
$11.99
Ballast Point Sculpin
If you only try one of these classic West Coast IPAs from this list, make it Ballast Point Sculpin. Named for the stinging Sculpin fish (which the label is adorned with), it’s brewed with various hops at five different times in the brewing process. The result is a 7% ABV, award-winning brew that’s filled with flavors like ripe peach, mango, tangerine, grapefruit, and dank, resinous pine. The finish is prickly, piney, and pleasantly bitter. One sip and this beer is sure to find a permanent spot in your refrigerator.
$11.99
Firestone Walker Union Jack
This highly popular, 7% ABV West Coast IPA is named after one of the brewery’s founders, who hails from the UK. It’s brewed with Crystal malt and house ale yeast, and gets its hop presence from Simcoe and Chinook hops. This creates a balanced beer that features notes of grapefruit, freshly cut grass, biscuit malts, orange peels, light garlic, lemon zest, and dank, resinous pine needles. The last sip is piney, citrusy, with just the right amount of hop bitterness to tie everything together.
$11.99
AleSmith IPA
This year-round, 7.25% ABV West Coast banger gets its hop aroma and flavor from Columbus and Citra hops. One of the most popular West Coast IPAs ever brewed, it’s known for its complex, balanced, multi-layered profile featuring notes of candied orange peels, grapefruit, pineapple, and resinous pine needles. The finish is a mix of caramel malts and bitter, piney, dank hops.
$11.49
Russian River Pliny the Elder
Not as easy to find as any of the others on the list, Russian River Pliny the Elder is no less important to the West Coast IPA boom. This year-round, 8% ABV West Coast
$7.49
