West Coast IPA
The origin of the West Coast IPA dates back to the days of the British Empire when the India Pale Ale (IPA) was first crafted to withstand long sea voyages. Over time, the IPA made its way to America, evolving into the American IPA, and eventually into various subgroups, with the West Coast IPA emerging as a standout over the last 40 years. Characterized by its increasingly pale appearance, bright or nearly so, this beer style boasts intense aromatics and hop flavors, delivering a clean, dry finish. Renowned for its bold tropical and citrus fruit aromas, the West Coast IPA is all about the hops, achieving an average ABV of around 7-8%. Traditional notes of dark resin and pine contribute to its considerably more bitter profile compared to its New England counterpart.
For homebrewers and craft beer enthusiasts eager to recreate this iconic beer style, our brand’s automated beer brewer simplifies the process into just three easy steps: Pour, Mix, and Brew. Thanks to our advanced brewing technology, you can effortlessly capture the essence of a West Coast IPA, complete with its signature hop intensity and aromatic complexity, all from the comfort of your home.
Ingredients
iGulu Pale Ale Brewing Kit
iGulu S1 All-in-One Automated Beer Brewer
20-30g of hops
CO2
Directions
- Base Beer Preparation: Use the S1 and iGulu ingredient kit to brew a Pale Ale, completing a 7-day primary fermentation stage.
- Dry Hopping: Prepare a new fermentation keg, clean it thoroughly, add hops (recommended amount is 20-30g, using a hops infuser), and seal the keg.
- CO2 Placement and Pressurize: Use an adapter to fill the new keg with CO2 and expel the air, repeating this process 3 times. Continue to fill the new keg with CO2 to 15psi.
- Pressure transfer: Connect the completed fermentation keg to the new keg, ensuring all connecting pipes and valves are sanitized, then start the transfer.
- Secondary Fermentation in S1: Place the new keg into the S1 to continue fermentation, cold brewing for 3 days.
- Enjoy: Your West Coast IPA is ready to enjoy!
Homemade West Coast IPA Recipe Step-by-Step Diagram
Homemade West Coast IPA Recipe YouTube Tutorial
Frequently Asked Questions
What is West Coast IPA?
The West Coast IPA is known for its citrus fruit aromas and is all about hops with an average ABV between 7%-8% and is typically more pale and bright in appearance.
What grains are best for West Coast IPA?
When brewing a West Coast IPA, selecting the right grains is crucial to achieve the desired flavor profile. The base malt typically consists of pale malt, which forms the backbone of the beer, providing fermentable sugars and a light, crisp body. Additionally, brewers often incorporate a small percentage of specialty malts such as Crystal or Caramel malt to add subtle sweetness, enhance body, and impart a light amber color. These grains strike a perfect balance, ensuring the hops remain the star of the show.
What hops make a West Coast IPA?
Hops play a pivotal role in defining the character of a West Coast IPA. Popular hop varieties include Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, Simcoe, and Citra, known for their robust aromas and flavors. These hops bring forward bold notes of citrus, pine, and tropical fruits, creating a complex and vibrant sensory experience. Dry hopping, or adding hops later in the brewing process, is often used to intensify these aromatic qualities. The careful selection of hops ensures that every sip is an explosion of flavor, characteristic of this iconic style. At iGulu we use Mosaic Natural Hops Aromatic Extract and 25 Natural Hops Bitter Extract.
What is the difference between a West Coast IPA and an American IPA?
While both West Coast IPA and American IPA share a common lineage, subtle differences distinguish the two. West Coast IPAs are notorious for their clear appearance, as they tend to be highly filtered, showcasing a more translucent, golden look. They are also significantly more hop-forward, with a higher bitterness level and prominent piney, resinous, and citrusy aromas. In contrast, American IPAs can vary in clarity and are often more balanced between hop bitterness and malt sweetness, typically presenting a broader range of flavors. Although both styles celebrate the hops, the West Coast IPA’s intense focus on hop character sets it apart.
