The debate over which coast reigns supreme has been around for years. Whether it’s Scottish cities, ‘90s American hip-hop, or, in our case, craft beer, people love to pick a side.

West Coast IPA vs. East Coast IPA—two styles that have sparked endless discussion among beer lovers.

If you caught my column last week, we explored the New England IPA, also known as the East Coast IPA. So, it only seems fitting to turn our attention to the original IPA that helped shape the craft beer movement in the U.S.—the West Coast IPA.

It’s easily my favourite style of beer now, but that wasn’t always the case.

I still remember my first encounter with the style. I had just turned 21 and decided to treat myself to a mixed six-pack from my local microbrewery, Upland Brewing. At the time, their Upland Wheat was my go-to, so I figured I couldn’t go wrong.

Wanting to save my favourite for last, I reached for Dragonfly IPA. I cracked it open, poured it into a glass, and was immediately surprised—it was darker than I expected. Not as dark as a stout, but its deep golden, almost light amber hue stood in stark contrast to the pale yellow lagers I was used to.

Still, beer is beer, right? I took a big gulp.

Big mistake.

It was like someone had sprayed cheap cologne straight into my mouth—overwhelmingly bitter and completely unpalatable to my inexperienced palate. I never admitted this to my friends at the time, but I ended up pouring the rest down the drain. It was just too much for me.

Fast forward 15 years, and now? West Coast IPAs are what I drink the most. Funny how things change.

It’s clear that this style isn’t shy when it comes to bold flavours—but what exactly is a West Coast IPA?

Pictured: Grunting Growler owner Jehad Hatu (Image: Newsquest)

Like their East Coast counterparts, West Coast IPAs come in many variations, but they generally follow a few key characteristics.

The main objective of this style is to let the hops take centre stage, which means the malt and yeast play a more subtle role. The malt bill, ranging from deep golden to light amber, exists purely as a platform for the hops to........

© Herald Scotland