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Tower X

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Piney, resinous aromas open the glass, followed by a wave of fruity, citrusy hop flavor. Six hops build this 7.3% West Coast IPA: Citra, Chinook, Cascade, Centennial, Simcoe and Sultana. The X in the name tips a hat to the independent radio station 91X and to Lifeguard Tower 10 in Mission Beach, where the brewery first decided to give brewing a go back in 1989.

ABV
7.3%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden7
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
resinouspineyfruity
resinous
piney
fruity
citrusy
hoppy
Aroma
The nose opens with assertive piney and resinous character from Chinook and Simcoe hops, layered with vibrant citrus notes of lemon and grapefruit from Citra and Centennial.
not found:juicy,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Tower X

◎ Appearance

Tower X presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and bright luminosity. The head forms with good density and displays persistent lacing along the glass walls, indicating stable carbonation and malt structure. Effervescence is brisk and sustained throughout the pour.

pale goldclearpersistent lacingbright carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with assertive piney and resinous character from Chinook and Simcoe hops, layered with vibrant citrus notes of lemon and grapefruit from Citra and Centennial. A subtle fruity sweetness emerges beneath, suggesting ripe stone fruit, while clean malt provides a restrained backdrop without asserting grain-forward notes.

piney resincitrus zeststone fruitclean malt

◐ Taste

The palate leads with hop-driven citrus and pine that command the mid-palate with resinous intensity, balanced against a light, clean malt body. Bitterness builds moderately, registering as herbal and measured rather than aggressive, finishing with lingering resinous hop compounds. The 7.3% alcohol sits comfortably beneath the hop profile, never intrusive.

hoppy pinecitrus bitedry finishherbal bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is crisp and dry, with resinous hop character persisting into the aftertaste. Bitterness fades gradually, leaving a clean, refreshing impression with subtle citrus notes lingering on the palate.

drylingering resin
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
82
Appearance
80
Finish
80
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 Tower X

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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 resinous, piney, fruity character as Tower X 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 States beers →