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West Ghost

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A modern West Coast IPA that began in 2023 as a draft-only taproom beer and moved into cans for year-round release in 2026. Amarillo, Citra and Idaho 7 give citrus, sweet tropical fruit and woody, dank notes, with lemon peel, papaya and a peppery, herbal edge in the nose. Dextrin malt and two-row pale malt stay in the background as a light biscuit base. The beer pours clear gold, drinks crisp and lean, and ends on a firm, piney bitterness that fades cleanly.

ABV
7.2%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter60 IBU
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden7
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
citrusypineytropical
citrusy
piney
tropical
herbal
hoppy
dank
Aroma
The nose leads with bright citrus—lemon peel and grapefruit zest—layered with sweet tropical notes of papaya and stone fruit from the Citra and Idaho 7 hops.
also:spicy,clean
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for West Ghost

◎ Appearance

West Ghost pours a clear, bright gold with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that clings to the glass in distinct rings as you drink. The carbonation is crisp and visible, driving steady streams of small bubbles upward. The overall presentation is clean and inviting, typical of a well-executed West Coast IPA.

clear goldfine head retentionbright and crisp

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with bright citrus—lemon peel and grapefruit zest—layered with sweet tropical notes of papaya and stone fruit from the Citra and Idaho 7 hops. Beneath sits a peppery, herbal spice with a subtle woody, dank undertone that grounds the aromatics. The malt remains restrained, offering only a whisper of pale biscuit in the background.

lemon peel, papayapeppery herb, dank woodtropical citrus

◐ Taste

The palate opens lean and crisp, with the citrus and tropical fruit notes carrying through from the aroma into a clean, dry mid-palate. A light biscuit sweetness from the dextrin and two-row malt provides subtle backbone without heaviness. The bitterness builds steadily and finishes firm, with a piney, resinous character that frames the finish cleanly.

crisp, lean bodycitrus and tropicalfirm pine bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and moderately persistent, dominated by a clean, piney bitterness that fades smoothly without harshness. No sticky sweetness or cloying aftertaste remains—just a refreshing, herbal dryness that invites another sip.

dry pine fadeclean aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
82
Appearance
85
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 West Ghost

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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 citrusy, piney, tropical character as West Ghost 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 →