Battle of the Beers (East vs. West)

The East and the West: 180° apart, two distinct territories, and one tempestuous, yet tasty, rivalry. Here, I explore the battle of the coasts in the territory of one of the nation’s most-loved concoctions… The IPA.

Long determined to battle it out against one another, the East Coast vs. West Coast feud sought its first notable combat in the 1950s. In a well-articulated middle-finger up gesture to the carefree, breezy and smooth jazz of the West Coast, 180° to the East, musicians were revelling in heart-thumping, intense and intricate instrumental acrobatic acts.

Other fiery encounters have occurred; the weather, hip-hop, and the one most relevant to us CAMRA members, beer.

West Coast

Big, Bold, & Bitter. 3 words that sum up, albeit simplistically, a West Coast IPA. Originating in California, these brews leave a crisp and lingering bitterness that will stick around long after the final sip. The aim here is hops, and A LOT of them. Suppressed is the sweet and satisfying maltiness, and, instead (and not subtly) brought to the forefront, are hops. As true to America as the Great American Songbook, we have 3 of the big C’s; Cascade, Chinook & Citra. What do these have in common? Christened the high-alpha varieties (aka. the ultimate bittering hops), they are citrusy, zesty, with an abundance of grapefruit, pine, and floral notes; all flavours & aromas that are heart & soul of a West Coast IPA.

East Coast

More synonymous with the East Coast than the East Coast name itself, is the NEIPA (New England-style IPA). Compatible also with the Craft Beer movement - a term beloved by many, abhorred by others - this style originated in Vermont with a brew coined ‘Heady Topper’ 16 years ago. The Alchemist brewery had begun a revolution, a style that deviated, departed, and digressed from the approach 180’ west of the East Coast. It has even been coined the antithesis of the IPA; gone is the intense bitterness, and gone is the crisp, clear clarity. Viscous and strikingly hazy, a few pints of this, and you will be forgiven for tripping up on your way back from the bar; not owing to the ABV, but purely down to being unable to distinguish your feet through the golden haze. Fast forward to today, and it is a rage that has swept the UK market. Juicy, fun, fruity, smooth, sweet, lush – sensual and accurate descriptors of the NEIPA. Aromas are an attribute. Balanced is too. Bitterness is not. With the technique of dry hopping, your nostrils will receive the hop-hit, much less so your taste receptors. Coupled with the colourful character of unfiltering, plus the introduction of oats or wheat to bestow a velvety mouthfeel, readers, think twice before you mutter ‘my beer’s faulty’.

Before our nation was plunged into and temporarily stoppered by Covid19, myself and many others savoured the sociable, convivial, and ample selection of Britain’s beer festivals. My most recent, and for now, final, outings were CAMRA’s ‘Stevenage Beer Festival’, and BREWLDN, both showcasing different styles, but equally excellent. Today, I present to you my personal ‘showstoppers’ in the styles of the East and the West Coast. Go pour yourself a cheeky pint whilst I bring on the contenders…

East Coast (New England-style IPAs)

Mad Squirrel Brewery 'Roadkill' 6.5%

This is a brewery I like A LOT. I like the team. I like the original Hemel Hempstead brewery where the magic happens. I like the branding (and their courage to 'unhinge' and shake it up). And most importantly, I like the beer.

I first tried their ‘Roadkill’ in 2018, and most recently at BREWLDN in February. Both times, I have had the pleasure of speaking to the affable ‘Beer Sommelier’, Tim. And both times I have been blown away by their New England-style IPA. At 6.5%, it is a tropical blast; there are flavours of mango, apricot, and recently, I was reminded wholeheartedly of a glass of Tropicana Multivitamin. With hops of Citra, Simcoe, Sorachi Ace, Galaxy, and Chinook, this was a smooth and sexy blast in a glass that left me wanting more.

ShinDigger Brewery 'Shingri-La East Coast IPA' 6.5%

Up until early on this year, I’d never heard of this Mancunian brewery. Conceived and born in 2012 by two Manchester University friends, Paul and George, their “ethos is that beer is about having a good time with your friends and enjoying the moment”. And it is near-impossible not to when supping from one of their brews. Their Shingri-La East Coast IPA, is, (admittedly a bold statement to make), one of, or maybe, the best beer I’ve tasted so far in 2020. Both the smell and the taste were things of beauty. Mango, pineapple, subtle vanilla, and very, very fruity, but still with a pleasing bitterness. With hops of Simcoe, Equinox and Mosaic, give me a half of her viscous, golden locks any day.

Brewdog 'Amplified Hazy Jane New England IPA' 7.2%

Punk – love it, or hate it, but don’t deny Brewdog's success & huge influence. Always keen to support the lesser-known, and not as widely lauded breweries, I was wary of including the ‘Amplified Hazy Jane’ in my East Coast-style scoreboard. This was a delicious deviation from their subtler and less fiery ‘Hazy Jane’ at 5%. Visually, I wasn’t greeted with a tropical hit. Rather, this was more on the lemony yellow spectrum. Nor was I getting as many Tropicana notes on the palate. There was still bold pineapple and mango, but the fruit was a bit sharper and zestier. This was entwined with herbal aromas, notably almond and eucalyptus. With hops of Amarillo, Hallertauer Blanc, Magnum, and Mandarina Bavaria, this was a gorgeous blend between bitter and juicy. Coming in at 7.2%, a few too many of these, and my eyes could find themselves quite successfully replicating hazy.

West Coast-style IPAs

Magic Rock & Vocation Brewery 'Hang Loose Epic West Coast IPA' 7%

A collaboration between Huddersfield’s ‘Magic Rock Brewery’ and “our hilltop in West Yorkshire”, Vocation Brewery. What’s there not to love? I was excited admittedly, and therefore, wisely wary to not let bias creep in before taste. Magic Rock’s ‘Cannonball’ and Vocation’s ‘Life & Death’ have been a couple of my absolute go-to’s for quite a while, so what did I make of the duo’s take on the classic West Coast IPA. Was it ‘epic’ as the name boldly suggests? True to the style, this brew centred heavily on the bitter resin and herbal notes. Eucalyptus springs to mind. And sulphur. Perhaps a tad too sulphurous for me. With a chuck-load of Cascade and Centennial hops, this is a collaboration that has, ‘what are the odds’ won me over ‘heart & soul’.

Lagunitas 'Waldos’ Special Ale' 11.7%

Though I can’t strictly label this as a classic West Coast style IPA, this ‘Waldo’s Special’ Imperial IPA from the giants of the West Coast ‘Lagunitas’ deserved a special mention. Coming in at a shocking 11.7%, Lagunitas weren’t understating things when they conjured up “the dankest and hoppiest beer ever brewed”. A glass of this, and your notes are barely legible, let alone with any degree of accuracy. In honour of 4:20 & Weed Appreciation Day, the beer itself is high. High, high, high in hops. Clear and golden, the first thing that hits you are the herbal notes. This is strong! This is reminiscent of falling headfirst into a herb garden… or into university halls. With hops remaining a well-preserved secret, this is a brew to (try-to) remember.

William Bros. Brewing Co. 'Talking Head American Pale Ale' 4.4%

Staring out at you from the can are two eyes. Not dissimilar to Storm Thorgerson’s artwork to Pink Floyd’s ‘Pulse’. Scarily like an aboriginal mask. Put this, plus the unusually generous size of 500ml together, and the William Brothers have successfully hooked your attention. And rightfully so. With hops of Magnum, Ekuanot, Citra, Mosaic, and Cascade, these bad boys amalgamate in a crisp, citrusy, tropical, and resinous brew. At 4.4%, and with notes of pine, and a very bitter backbone, our Glaswegian brotherhood wanted the hops to do the talking, and that they finely accomplished. These don't so much talk, as shout at you.

What are the brews in this style that have got you talking? Let us know!