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Sundown

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Back Forty's West-Coast-leaning IPA — resinous piney hop character on top, bitter dry finish underneath, and just enough tropical citrus lift to keep it from turning bitter-brown. Sundown is what Back Forty pours when the sun's low and someone wants something with more spine than Devil's Staircase.

ABV
6%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter60 IBU
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden7
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
resinoushoppypiney
resinous
hoppy
piney
tropical
citrusy
orange
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced resinous and piney hop character that dominates the sensory profile.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Sundown

◎ Appearance

Sundown presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and bright transparency. The head forms with moderate density and holds with fine, persistent lacing that clings to the glass. Carbonation is crisp and visible, lending the beer a lively, well-defined presence.

pale goldenclearfine lacingwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced resinous and piney hop character that dominates the sensory profile. Beneath this piney foundation, tropical citrus notes emerge—orange and grapefruit—adding brightness and lift. Subtle malt undertones provide a clean, dry backbone without any caramel or sweetness.

resinous pinetropical citrusorange peelclean malt

◐ Taste

The palate enters with bold hop bitterness that unfolds into a sustained, drying finish. Mid-palate brings forward citrus and tropical fruit character, balancing the resinous bite with subtle sweetness. The malt structure is lean and supportive, allowing hop expression to remain central without turning harsh or overly bitter-edged.

assertive bitternesscitrus-forwarddry finishcrisp backbone

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and persistent, with lingering resinous hop residue and a clean, slightly bitter aftertaste. No astringency; the bitterness fades smoothly into a refreshing, mineral-like dryness.

drylingering resinclean aftertaste
80
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
81
Appearance
78
Finish
77
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 Sundown

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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, hoppy, piney character as Sundown 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 →