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Surf Wax

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Surf Wax is a West Coast IPA from Burial Beer Co., based in Asheville, North Carolina. True to its Californian-inspired style, it pours a brilliant golden-amber with a crisp, white head. The aroma is an inviting wave of Pacific-leaning hops — resinous pine, fresh citrus zest, and a touch of tropical fruit riding alongside subtle floral notes. On the palate, the beer delivers a clean, dry malt backbone that keeps the bold hop character firmly in focus. Bitterness is assertive yet balanced, with flavors of grapefruit peel, dank resin, and bright lemon. The finish is long, dry, and refreshingly bitter — exactly what a proper West Coast IPA demands.

ABV
6.8%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
amber9
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
resinoushoppycitrusy
resinous
hoppy
citrusy
dank
clean
tropical
Aroma
The nose opens with assertive resinous pine and fresh citrus zest—grapefruit and lemon rind—that immediately establishes the Pacific hop profile.
also:piney,floral,orange
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Surf Wax

◎ Appearance

Surf Wax pours a brilliant golden-amber with excellent clarity and a crisp, white head that clings to the glass with fine, persistent lacing. The carbonation is visible and lively, creating a clean visual presence that speaks to proper conditioning and freshness. The color strikes that classic West Coast IPA balance—deep enough to suggest proper malt character, bright enough to showcase the beer's hop-forward nature.

golden-ambercrisp white headbrilliant clarityfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with assertive resinous pine and fresh citrus zest—grapefruit and lemon rind—that immediately establishes the Pacific hop profile. Tropical fruit notes ride alongside these base tones, bringing hints of stone fruit and subtle floral character that adds complexity without obscuring the primary hop expression. The overall aromatics are clean and inviting, with no sulfur or oxidation, suggesting quality ingredients and careful brewcraft.

resinous pinecitrus zesttropical fruitfresh floral

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a clean, dry malt backbone that provides necessary ballast without competing with the hop character. Mid-palate develops bold flavors of grapefruit peel, dank resin, and bright lemon, with the bitterness asserting itself as balanced rather than harsh—60 IBUs feel purposeful and well-integrated. The finish drives toward its conclusion with sustained bitterness and lingering citrus oil, keeping the drinker engaged throughout.

assertive hop bitternessgrapefruit peelclean malt basedank resin

◑ Finish

The finish is long, dry, and firmly bitter—exactly as a proper West Coast IPA should conclude. The aftertaste leaves grapefruit pith and resinous pine notes that fade gracefully without becoming astringent or fatiguing.

long dry finishlingering bitterness
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
82
Appearance
85
Finish
80
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 Surf Wax

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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, citrusy character as Surf Wax 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 →