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Coastal Riff

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Bold pine, resin and grapefruit flavors meet dank notes from New Zealand's Nectaron hops, delivering a clean bitterness for the classic West Coast aficionado, because New Zealand has a West Coast too. The IPA runs at 6.9 %. Lagunitas opened its Chicago brewery in 2014 and closed it on 1 August 2024.

ABV
6.9%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
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
resinouspineycitrusy
resinous
piney
citrusy
hoppy
dank
clean
Aroma
The nose leads with assertive resinous pine character from the malt base, immediately followed by the distinctive dank, earthy signature of Nectaron hops from New Zealand.
also:tropical
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Coastal Riff

◎ Appearance

Coastal Riff presents a bright golden-amber hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that clings to the glass walls with good Schaumhaftung. The beer displays vigorous carbonation with a steady stream of fine bubbles rising through the body. The color sits in the pale amber range, typical of West Coast IPAs, offering visual warmth without opacity.

golden-amberclearpersistent headwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with assertive resinous pine character from the malt base, immediately followed by the distinctive dank, earthy signature of Nectaron hops from New Zealand. Bright grapefruit and citrus notes emerge in the mid-range, adding freshness and dimensional complexity. Herbal and piney undertones persist throughout, creating a layered aromatic profile that speaks to careful hop selection and timing.

pine, resindank, herbalgrapefruit, citrusNectaron influence

◐ Taste

Entry reveals a clean, malty foundation with subtle sweetness that grounds the hop expression without muddying it. Mid-palate brings the promised resinous pine and grapefruit forward, with the dank New Zealand hop character adding earthy complexity and a slight tropical undertone. Bitterness arrives cleanly and builds steadily, finishing with crisp articulation rather than sharp astringency—a classic West Coast bitterness that respects drinkability at 6.9% ABV.

resinous, pineycitrus forwardclean bitternessbalanced, approachable

◑ Finish

The finish is medium in length with a lingering dry bitterness that gradually fades to a faint citrus memory and subtle pine resin. No harsh tannins or heating alcohol; the aftertaste remains clean and inviting, encouraging the next sip.

dry finishlingering bitternesscitrus memory
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
78
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve well-chilled. Session IPAs are at their best cold — the lower ABV means less warmth to balance the hops.

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.

Drink fresh. Session IPAs are brewed to be consumed young — the hops are at their best now.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Coastal Riff

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About IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a 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 IPA

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

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