Although this isn't the first beer tagged a California IPA we've written about, given they appear to be arriving in greater frequency it's worth dropping in a brief explainer. Not least as those of you with some knowledge of styles might ask: "California is on the West Coast of the US so isn't it just a West Coast IPA?" Well, it's not far off, but there are some differences (at least if the brewer sticks to the Platonic ideal of the style variant).
California IPAs are typically built upon a lighter malt base yet are hopped more heavily than a West Coast IPA, albeit often with overt bitterness or resinous character subdued. That's the approach taken by Hargreaves Hill, who've opted for a combination of fruity hops in Citra Cryo, Cascade and Idaho 7 which give the clear golden 7.5 percenter a particularly orangey character: both orange flesh and a bit of floral blossom. Upfront, it's soft on the palate, yet there's an earthiness and bitterness with depth waiting in the wings to remind you it's an IPA in your hand.
They've also brought back their 4 percent ABV "Crushable Series" Knock-Off Lager, which first appeared at the start of summer 2021/22, but returns with a heftier load of Citra hops.
James Smith
Published February 7, 2023 2023-02-07 00:00:00
