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West Coast IPAs for fans of bitter hops

Fans of bitter hops will love these IPAs

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Sierra Nevada
Sierra Nevada

West Coast IPAs aren’t for everyone. That’s a fact. Some might describe them as the cilantro of the beer world. Either you love them, or you absolutely hate them. For those who can’t get enough of this IPA style, they crave the piney, citrus-driven, borderline aggressively bitter flavor. This is an article for these folks.

I have a love/hate relationship with West Coast IPAs. I’ve been of drinking age for more than two decades now, and there are times when I can’t get enough of this bitter, hoppy style. But there are also times when I move as far away from this California staple as possible and head directly for crushable, refreshing pilsners and light lagers instead. But, like the tide returning to the beach, I always come back eventually. But what exactly is a West Coast IPA, and why is it so over-the-top bitter?

What is a West Coast IPA?

Beach beer
George Cox / Unsplash

This popular style got its name because it was popularized in Southern California in the 1980s. This is why so many of your favorite West Coast IPA brewers (like Green Flash, Ballast Point, and Alesmith) are based in Southern California.

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It’s well-known for its amber color and light caramel malt, with pine and citrus flavors and a memorable bitter bite. The finish is usually crisp and dry, leaving you craving more.

The style is well-known for its use of “C hops” like Centennial, Chinook, Cascade, and Citra, as well as Simcoe, Mosaic, Warrior, Magnum, Galaxy, and more, depending on the brewery.

Why are West Coast IPAs bitter?

Sierra Nevada
Sierra Nevada

Now that we’ve learned a little about the makeup of a West Coast IPA, it’s time to take a deeper dive into why this beer is bitter. There are myriad reasons for the aggressively bitter flavor. West Coast IPA brewers keep hops in the boil longer, adding extra bitterness. They also use hop varieties that add alpha acids and bitterness. Some brewers increase bitterness by using water with a higher sulfate content to enhance the prickly flavor.

The best West Coast IPAs for fans of bitter hops

beer
Nam Quach / Unsplash

The time has finally come to find the perfect IPAs for fans of bitter hop flavor. As you likely guessed, there’s a trend in my choices: most (if not all) of my favorite West Coast IPAs are California-based.

While most times my beer lists are comprised of the most “balanced” brews, this list is all about over-the-top bitter flavor because that’s what you’re looking for. Sure, many of these beers are surprisingly balanced, but all are aggressively bitter at the finish. Keep scrolling to see them all.

Stone Ruination IPA

Stone Ruination IPA
Stone Brewing

With a name like Stone Ruination IPA, you should have a decent idea that you’re in for a bitter beast of a beer. This 8.2% ABV double IPA was brewed with a mix of Magnum, Chinook, and Centennial hops. The result is an epic beer that begins with a nose of ripe pineapple, tangerine, grapefruit, honeydew melon, and dank, resinous pine needles. There’s more of the same on the palate with notes of caramelized pineapple, ripe grapefruit, wet grass, orange peels, light malts, and prickly pine. The finish is long, dry, and features face-puckering hop bitterness.

Buy it here

Bear Republic Racer 5

Bear Republic Racer 5
Bear Republic

If you only buy one beer from this list, make it Bear Republic Racer 5. One sip and this 7.5% ABV West Coast IPA will find a permanent spot in your fridge. Brewed with barley malt, white wheat malt, crystal malt, and a blend of Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, and Columbus hops, it’s a truly mighty brew. On the nose, you’ll be met with scents of ripe grapefruit, wildflowers, orange peels, and dank pine. Sipping it reveals notes of caramel malts, freshly baked bread, tangerine, fresh cut grass, lemon, and resinous pine needles. The finish is crisp and dry, ending with a perfect punch of bitter hop presence.

Buy it here

Sierra Nevada Torpedo

Sierra Nevada Torpedo
Sierra Nevada

Sierra Nevada is well-known for its iconic Pale Ale and countless IPAs. But, if you really want a bitter, hoppy kick, you’ll opt for Sierra Nevada Torpedo. This 7.2% “Extra IPA” is brewed with Two-row pale malt, caramelized malt, special brewing water, California ale yeast, and Magnum hops in the kettle, Crystal hops at the end of the boil and during dry-hopping, and Citra hops in the brewery’s proprietary “Hop Torpedo” dry-hopping machine. This creates a sublime IPA that begins with aromas of caramelized pineapple, mango, orange zest, grapefruit, and pine needles. On the palate, you’ll find flavors like bready malts, caramel, tangerine, grapefruit, pineapple, and spruce tips. The finish is crisp, clean, and ends with a warm, prickly, bitter pine.

Buy it here

Green Flash West Coast IPA

Green Flash West Coast IPA
Green Flash

Green Flash is the type of brewery that seems to make only outstanding, noteworthy IPAs. One of the best is its flagship Green Flash West Coast IPA. This 7.5% ABV IPA is brewed with two-row and crystal malts as well as Simcoe, Columbus, Centennial, Citra, and Cascade hops. The result is a multi-layered beer that begins with a nose of fresh-baked bread, tropical fruits, lemongrass, grapefruit, and pine needles. The palate is centered on notes of caramel malts, juicy grapefruit, lemon peels, orange zest, and dank pine. The finish is crisp, clean, and extremely bitter and piney in the best way possible.

Buy it here

Christopher Osburn
Christopher Osburn
Writer
Christopher Osburn is a food and drinks writer located in the Finger Lakes Region of New York. He's been writing professional
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