Ocean Lab Brewing Co. has a new tank release Ocean West Coast IPA pouring at its San Patricio Plaza location — and this one is aimed squarely at IPA drinkers who like their beer dry, aromatic and unapologetically bitter.
Ocean West Coast IPA comes in at 6.6% ABV, taking the clean, crisp profile associated with a classic West Coast IPA and loading it with a dry hop combination of Simcoe, Citra and Nelson Sauvin.
Ocean Lab describes layers of bright citrus, resinous pine, white grape, passion fruit and tropical fruit, backed by the pronounced bitterness and dry finish that define the style.
And there’s another reason to make the trip to San Patricio Plaza: Ocean West Coast IPA is a tank release and will only be available on tap for a limited time.
A West Coast IPA Built Around the Hops
West Coast IPAs are all about letting the hops take center stage.
Rather than the softer bitterness and fuller body often associated with hazy IPAs, the style typically delivers a cleaner profile, drier finish and more assertive bitterness.
Ocean Lab appears to be leaning directly into those characteristics with Ocean West Coast IPA. The beer is intensely dry hopped with three varieties that bring noticeably different qualities to the glass.
Simcoe provides a classic West Coast foundation with citrus alongside the resinous, pine-forward character that helped define generations of American IPAs.
Citra pushes things toward brighter citrus and tropical fruit.
Then there’s Nelson Sauvin, the New Zealand hop known for its distinctive white grape, passion fruit and vinous qualities.
Together, the three should give Ocean West Coast IPA considerably more depth than a straightforward citrus-and-pine IPA.
Aroma & Flavor Profile
Aroma
Expect an expressive hop aroma led by bright citrus, resinous pine, white grape, passion fruit and tropical fruit. With Simcoe, Citra and Nelson Sauvin all contributing distinctive aromatics, the dry hopping should take center stage from the first pour.
Malt Character
The malt should play a supporting role, providing enough structure for the hops while allowing the beer to retain the clean, crisp and dry profile expected from a West Coast IPA. This isn’t a beer where the malt is intended to compete for attention. The focus is firmly on the hops.
Hop Presence
High. This is firmly a hop-forward IPA. Simcoe should bring citrus and resinous pine, while Citra adds brighter citrus and tropical fruit. Nelson Sauvin adds another dimension with its distinctive white grape, passion fruit and vinous character, potentially giving the beer an interesting contrast between classic West Coast pine and more contemporary fruit-forward hop aromatics.
Finish
Expect a clean, dry finish with pronounced bitterness and lingering citrus, pine and tropical fruit. Ocean Lab specifically highlights the beer’s bitterness, so unlike a softer hazy IPA, bitterness isn’t something being pushed into the background here, it’s an intentional part of the experience. That dry finish should help keep the beer crisp and refreshing despite the intensity of the hops.
Why This Hop Combination Works
The most interesting part of this release may be the addition of Nelson Sauvin alongside two familiar American IPA hops.
Simcoe and Citra can deliver plenty of the pine, citrus and tropical character you’d expect from a modern West Coast IPA.
Nelson Sauvin takes things somewhere slightly different.
Its distinctive white grape and passion fruit character adds another layer to the aroma while providing a counterpoint to Simcoe’s more resinous qualities.
On paper, it’s a combination that bridges old school West Coast bitterness and pine with the brighter fruit character of contemporary hop forward IPAs.
Best Enjoyed With
A crisp, bitter West Coast IPA is particularly good alongside foods with enough richness or spice to stand up to the hops.
Good pairings include:
- Spicy wings
- Burgers
- Tacos
- Grilled meats
- BBQ
- Sharp cheeses
- Fried foods
The beer’s bitterness and dry finish should work particularly well at cutting through richer dishes.
Where to Find Ocean West Coast IPA
Ocean West Coast IPA is pouring now at Ocean Lab Brewing Co. inside San Patricio Plaza.
This is a draft only tank release, so don’t expect cans or bottles to appear elsewhere.
It’s also a limited release. Once the tank kicks, this particular Simcoe, Citra and Nelson Sauvin dry hop edition may be gone.
For IPA fans, especially anyone who enjoys the distinctly bitter, dry character of a West Coast IPA, that’s a pretty good reason not to wait too long.
PRBG Final Pour
At 6.6% ABV, Ocean West Coast IPA lands in a sweet spot for the style, enough strength to support its assertive hop character without taking away from the clean, dry and refreshing profile Ocean Lab is aiming for.
Simcoe and Citra provide a familiar foundation of citrus, tropical fruit and resinous pine, while Nelson Sauvin adds the intriguing white grape and passion fruit character that could make this tank release stand apart.
More importantly, Ocean Lab isn’t shying away from bitterness.
With its aromatic dry hop, pronounced bitterness and clean, dry finish, Ocean West Coast IPA promises the kind of crisp, hop driven drinking experience that made the West Coast IPA a craft beer staple in the first place.
Draft only. One tank. Pouring now at San Patricio Plaza.
Photos: Ocean Lab Brewing Co., PRBG Mockups
