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Illumin-8

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Citrus, tropical fruit and a touch of pine come through in this 7% West Coast IPA, built on bright New Zealand hops and a surprisingly light body. It was brewed in collaboration with partners whose nonprofit, the 8 Trill Initiative, supports Black entrepreneurs in craft beer, and the 8 in the name celebrates that initiative.

ABV
7%
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
tropicalcitrusyhoppy
tropical
citrusy
hoppy
piney
Aroma
The nose leads with pronounced tropical and citrus notes from the New Zealand hops—expect guava, passionfruit, and grapefruit zest layered with subtle piney undertones.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Illumin-8

◎ Appearance

Illumin-8 presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and bright, translucent character. The head is fine-grained and persistent, building a delicate lacing that clings to the glass with each sip. Carbonation is lively and well-integrated, creating a crisp visual presence.

pale goldencrystal-clearfine persistent headbright carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with pronounced tropical and citrus notes from the New Zealand hops—expect guava, passionfruit, and grapefruit zest layered with subtle piney undertones. The Malz base remains restrained and clean, allowing the Edelhopfen character to dominate without any harsh herbality. A whisper of floral spice rounds out the aromatic profile.

tropical fruitcitrus zestsubtle pineclean malt backdrop

◐ Taste

The palate opens with crisp citrus and stone fruit complexity, developing into lively tropical notes mid-sip. The 60 IBU bitterness arrives as a dry, measured bite rather than an aggressive strike, balancing the fruit-forward character without overwhelming. The surprisingly light body maintains excellent drinkability, allowing each layer of flavor to remain distinct and vibrant.

citrus-driventropical middledry balanced bitternessfeatherweight body

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately dry, with lingering grapefruit pith and a subtle piney fade. The aftertaste remains crisp and thirst-inducing, free of sticky residue or astringency.

dry crispcitrus persistence
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
83
Appearance
80
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 Illumin-8

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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 tropical, citrusy, hoppy character as Illumin-8 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 →