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IPA

Four Winds Brewing Co.
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🌍 Canada · West Coast IPA · One of 40 West Coast IPAs in hopIQ

One of the founding beers at Four Winds and still a year-round item. At 7% and 70 IBU it sits at the firmer end of the West Coast school, where bitterness is meant to be felt rather than hidden. The brewery lists citrus and floral hop notes over a malt backbone, with pine carrying the finish. It is sold in 355 ml six-packs and, as the Original IPA, in 473 ml tall cans; the brewery marks it as an award winner.

ABV
7%
Bitterness
Very bitter70 IBU
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden7
See all West Coast IPA alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Assertively bitter and very dry.

A trim base, a hop-led finish — the classic setup for a hop-forward beer.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another West Coast IPA.
Hop character
citrusy
piney
floral
hoppy
resinous
Malt character
malty
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for IPA

Appearance

Pale gold in color with excellent clarity and a bright, white head that displays strong adhesion to the glass walls. The beer presents as visually clean and crisp, with active carbonation visible throughout the pour and body.

pale goldclearpersistent headbright white foam

Aroma

The nose opens with prominent citrus notes—grapefruit and lemon zest—layered beneath delicate floral hop character. A resinous quality emerges in the mid-range, while the malt backbone provides subtle bread-like sweetness that anchors the overall aromatic profile without overwhelming the noble hop impression.

citrus zestfloral hopspiney resinlight grain sweetness

Taste

The palate enters with focused bitterness that dominates the mid-palate at 70 IBU—characteristic of the West Coast tradition where hop bite is meant to be present and assertive. Piney and resinous flavors build through the center, supported by a clean malt foundation that remains restrained, allowing the assertive hop character to remain the focal point. The finish leans dry with minimal residual sweetness.

assertive bitternesspine and resinclean maltdry palate

Finish

A long, dry finish driven by lingering pine and resinous hop character that carries well into the aftertaste. The bitterness holds steady without becoming harsh, leaving a crisp, mineral impression.

long dry finishlingering pinemineral aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
85
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of IPA

Serve at 8–11°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

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

Tulip glass
Recommended for this style

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

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with IPA

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 bitter, piney, citrusy character as IPA will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other West Coast IPAs in hopIQ

Explore all West Coast IPA beers in hopIQ →New to West Coast IPA? Read our guide →Browse Canada beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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