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West Coast Sue

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Citrus and tropical fruits mark this hop-forward IPA, and the bitterness stays mild in the finish. Citra and Mosaic carry it at 6.5% ABV. The brewery tells it as a Sue erupting from an angry sea to rain hops on unsuspecting drinkers. It is part of the Sue series from Toppling Goliath, founded in Decorah, Iowa, in 2009.

ABV
6.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
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
hoppytropicalcitrusy
hoppy
tropical
citrusy
juicy
clean
Aroma
The nose leads with bright Citra hop aromatics—candied lemon zest and lime—layered with Mosaic's distinctive tropical stone fruit character: mango, papaya, and subtle passionfruit.
not found:piney,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for West Coast Sue

◎ Appearance

Light golden amber with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that clings to the glass with good lacing. The beer presents a bright, inviting hue typical of the style, with steady carbonation visible as a fine stream of bubbles. Head retention remains firm throughout the drinking experience.

light golden amberclearpersistent headfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with bright Citra hop aromatics—candied lemon zest and lime—layered with Mosaic's distinctive tropical stone fruit character: mango, papaya, and subtle passionfruit. A clean malt backbone provides subtle graham cracker sweetness without overwhelming the hop profile. The aroma remains crisp and fresh, with no oxidative or yeasty notes.

citrus zesttropical stone fruitCitra, Mosaicclean malt

◐ Taste

The palate opens with punchy Edelhopfen flavors—candied citrus and juicy peach—that roll into a mid-palate dominated by mango and papaya notes. Bitterness builds gradually but remains restrained at 60 IBU, never dominating the hop-derived fruitiness. The malt provides a soft, clean foundation with light honey and biscuit notes that balance without sweetness.

citrus forwardjuicy stone fruitrestrained bitternessclean palate

◑ Finish

The finish is crisp and dry, with lingering citrus and tropical fruit notes fading gracefully. Bitterness subsides to a subtle herbal whisper, leaving the palate refreshed rather than harsh.

dry finishlingering citrussoft herbal edge
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
78
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve well-chilled. Session IPAs are at their best cold — the lower ABV means less warmth to balance the hops.

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.

Drink fresh. Session IPAs are brewed to be consumed young — the hops are at their best now.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with West Coast Sue

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About IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a 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 IPA

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same hoppy, tropical, citrusy character as West Coast Sue will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all IPA beers in hopIQ →New to IPA? Read our guide →Browse United States beers →