As far as most beer drinkers are concerned, an IPA doesn’t excite them much. An India pale ale is typically a bitter, hoppy beer with a higher alcohol content than most other varieties of brews (international bittering units).
Regarding beer style popularity, India Pale Ales, or “IPAs,” are the most widely consumed. Although IPAs are a favourite among beer drinkers, there are many discussions about which sub-style is better, West Coast or Hazy.
We believe that when it comes to flavour and bitterness, you can’t go wrong with either. So what’s the difference between a West Coast IPA and a Hazy one? Learn more about the two types, their effect, and how we classified IPAs into these groups in the following sections!
What Is a West Coast IPA?
They are famous for their strong hop aroma, high bitterness, and citrus and piney characteristics in the West Coast IPA style. The intense bitterness and mid-palate hop flavour are due to the considerable amount of hops used in the boil kettle. After fermentation, hops enhance the beer’s aroma and slight bitterness, but the proportions are now more evenly distributed.
Union Jack is the best-known West Coast-style IPA. In addition to the scents of pineapple, citrus, and pine, Union Jack has flavours of grapefruit and tangerine from the dry hops. Featuring Magnum, Cascade, Centennial, Amarillo, Citra, Chinook, and Simcoe hops, it packs a 7 per cent ABV punch.
What Is a Hazy IPA?
New England IPA, juicy IPA, East Coast IPA, and unprocessed IPA are just a few of the many names given to the Hazy IPA. Brewing has been rocked to its core by this innovation.
Tropical and fruity tastes characterize Hazy IPAs, which are lower in bitterness. Often, they have a creamier or richer texture and are sweeter. Therefore, these factors might affect a person’s sense of bitterness and balance.
There are more excellent post-fermentation additions of hops in hazy beers compared to West Coast IPAs because there are fewer hops in the kettle, fewer in the whirlpool, and more post-fermentation.
As a result, the mouthfeel is softer, the flavour is more balanced, and the scent is more robust. If you wish to be up to date with the latest trends, you’ll need to sell at least one hazy-style American Pale Ale.
The Main Difference Between West Coast IPAs And Hazy IPAs
Adding hops during the brewing process is one of the essential variations between the two kinds. As the kettle is boiling, hops extract a broad spectrum of bitterness and taste.
After boiling is complete, most of the hops from the brewhouse are added to the whirlpool to create a hazy IPA. No bitterness is imparted during this “hot steep” period because of the absence of boiling the hops.
Higher-protein grains like wheat and oats are in high-protein mashes, and high rates of hop additions contribute to the hazy IPA’s trademark foggy appearance. Haze forms when non-polar hop aroma components bind together.
Conclusion
Many beer drinkers—casual and snobbish alike—are shifting away from the West Coast IPA and toward the East Coast IPA style after years of slamming highly bitter, IBU-busting beers. Why? Tastes change throughout time.
That doesn’t suggest you can no longer get an IPA from the west coast. However, you won’t be able to find anything better than an East Coast/Hazy IPA on the West Coast. Watching the industry evolve is lovely regardless of your preference for Team Hazy or the West Coast.
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