In the Pursuit of Honor

THE BATTLE BEGINS: EAST COAST IPA VS WEST COAST IPA

“What’s the difference between a West Coast IPA and an East Coast IPA, in technical terms?” This question results in a SLEW of different answers, but the overarching similarities seem to have to do with water profile, hot side hop usage, and hop selection. Can a West Coast be hazy? Can an East Coast be bitter? With this in mind, we decided to have ourselves an experiment. We straddled the line between East and West on both beers, while trying to also stay firmly inside the gray area.

Mashed with the same grist of @riverbendmalt Pilsner and a melange of Wheat malts, we collected all of the wort in the kettle for a normal boil, but that’s where it gets interesting (if you’re a friggin’ nerrrrrrrrrd).

Both of these present with some similarities in terms of citrus character and varying levels of firm bitterness, but also MARKED differences in terms of overall finish, juice vs. resin, etc etc.

“In the Pursuit of Honor” East Coast Hazy IPA, we took half of the wort post-boil into the Whirlpool and added in a HEAVY amount of Centennial and Columbus, along with Brewer’s Crystals for body and our typical water adjustments for NEIPA. We fermented that with our House IPA yeast, dry hopped it with Idaho 7, and then hit it again with a second dry hop of Mosaic and BRU-1. Big notes of Orange pulp, a sticky grassy green substance, Blueberry compote, and a touch of dried Pineapple wedges. Starts dank, finishes fruity. Show Less