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Head Stock

Nickel Brook Brewing Co.
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🌍 Canada · West Coast IPA · One of 43 West Coast IPAs in hopIQ

A clear, deep gold West Coast IPA with pine and grapefruit at the front. Behind them sit apricot and other tree fruit, a resinous edge, and a cereal maltiness that gives the hops something to push against. Bitterness is firm without turning harsh, the body medium, and the finish long and dry with lemon peel and a light herbal note.

ABV
7%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
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

Firmly bitter and 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
piney
resinous
citrusy
hoppy
herbal
Malt character
malty
Fermentation & yeast
fruity
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Head Stock

Appearance

A bright, crystalline deep gold presentation with excellent clarity. The head forms cleanly and maintains good adhesion to the glass, displaying fine carbonation that rises steadily. The color sits at the amber-leaning end of the gold spectrum, characteristic of West Coast tradition.

deep goldcrystal clearfine carbonationpersistent head

Aroma

Pine and grapefruit lead immediately on the nose, delivering the classic Edelhopfen punch expected of the style. Behind this assertive citrus-resin foundation lie softer notes of apricot and stone fruit, balanced by a subtle cereal sweetness from the Malz that prevents the aroma from becoming one-dimensional. A light herbal undertone adds complexity without obscuring the hop character.

pineycitrus-forwardresinousapricot notes

Taste

The palate entry is clean and dry, with firm bitterness that grips without harshness. The mid-palate shows the promised interplay between resinous hop bitterness and a supporting cereal Malz foundation, allowing the tree fruit character to develop clearly. The body remains medium throughout, never becoming heavy or cloying, and the dry character persists from start to finish.

firm bitternessdry palatefruity mid-palatebalanced

Finish

The finish extends long and dry, dominated by lemon peel zest and a receding herbal note that lingers pleasantly. The bitterness fades gradually rather than dropping sharply, leaving the mouth clean and thirst-inducing.

long dry finishlemon peelherbal fade
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
82
Appearance
85
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Head Stock

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 Head Stock

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, dry character as Head Stock 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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