Coast West Double IPA by Wild Leap Brew Co. is a Double IPA and is being evaluated as a Double IPA (category 22A in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). The focus of the Double IPA style is hops, hops and more hops. Additionally, despite being a high-alcohol content style, Double IPAs are fairly drinkable and lack a heavy malty body, which are more typical traits of beers of this alcohol content. Coast West measures in at 10.0% abv and 49 IBUs.

Coast West pours golden in color with a light haze and sports a moderate, clingy, cream-colored head. The aroma is prominently hoppy with resiny and piney characters with a light sulfury dankness; a light nutty malt provides a backdrop to the hops. The flavor is again prominently of piney and resiny hops with a hint of citrus and a light nutty maltiness; a light sulfury dankness detracts. The finish is moderately bitter with a lingering piney and resiny hop flavor over, again, a hint of nutty malt.

Coast West is a decidedly hoppy IPA with a West Coast IPA profile minus the high bitterness (which I personally find welcoming). The light sulfury and oniony hop characters detract from the pleasant resiny and piney hop flavors, but many hopheads will not find this character offensive. The alcohol at 10% ABV is very deceiving. Enjoy this aggressively hopped Double IPA.