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Photon Drift

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Bright citrus and resinous pine set the tone, led by Centennial's grapefruit bite, with passion fruit, orange peel and dank pine from Galaxy and Simcoe and modern tropical lift from Krush Spectrum. Clean fermentation keeps the body lean and crisp, and a firm, lingering bitterness ends in a dry, decisive finish. A 6.0% west coast IPA: on Atom's can code, a hop-forward IPA gets a tightly packed ring of dots.

ABV
6%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden7
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
citrusyresinoushoppy
citrusy
resinous
hoppy
piney
dank
tropical
Aroma
The nose leads with bright citrus notes—grapefruit from Centennial hops and orange peel from Galaxy—layered with resinous pine and a dank herbal character from Simcoe.
also:orange,clean
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Photon Drift

◎ Appearance

Pale gold in color with excellent clarity and bright luminosity. A white head forms with moderate retention and fine lacing that clings to the glass as the beer is consumed. Carbonation is lively and visible, reinforcing the crisp character throughout.

pale goldcrystal clearfine lacingwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with bright citrus notes—grapefruit from Centennial hops and orange peel from Galaxy—layered with resinous pine and a dank herbal character from Simcoe. Passion fruit adds a modern tropical dimension that lifts above the pine base. Clean fermentation keeps malt in the background, allowing the hop profile to dominate.

grapefruitresinous pinepassion fruitherbal, dank

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp and citrus-forward, with grapefruit bitterness developing quickly across the mid-palate. Orange peel and tropical fruit from Krush Spectrum provide sweetness and complexity, while pine and herbal notes from Simcoe add depth. The lean body allows hop character to remain sharp and defined, building toward a firm bitterness.

citrus bitetropical fruitpine resinlean, crisp body

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and decisive, with a lingering firm bitterness that extends through the aftertaste without harshness. Grapefruit and pine notes persist cleanly, leaving the palate refreshed and ready for the next sip.

dry finishlingering bitternessclean aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
83
Appearance
85
Finish
78
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Tulip glass

The curved shape concentrates hop aromas and supports a thick head. Essential for aromatic ales and IPAs where the nose is half the experience.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Photon Drift

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About West Coast IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a West Coast IPA?

IPAs are hop-forward ales with 5.5–7.5% ABV and IBU 40–70+. Bold hop aroma — citrus, tropical, resinous — with firm bitterness and a dry, clean finish.

Finding a similar West Coast IPA

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same citrusy, resinous, hoppy character as Photon Drift will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all West Coast IPA beers in hopIQ →New to West Coast IPA? Read our guide →Browse United Kingdom beers →