West Coast IPA v East Coast IPA: Whats the Difference

When it comes to craft beer, few debates get beer lovers talking quite like West Coast vs East Coast IPA. Both are packed with hops, bursting with flavour, and built on bold brewing traditions; but they each tell a different story in the glass. Think of them as two sides of the same coin, both brilliant, but worlds apart in taste, appearance, and attitude.

The Look of the Thing

West Coast: Crystal clear, golden, and sharp-looking; a beer that sparkles like sunshine on a pint glass. You can see straight through it, and it pours with a lively, crisp fizz that makes you thirsty before it even hits your lips.

East Coast (or New England IPA): Hazy, juicy, and opaque, it often looks more like a glass of fresh fruit juice than beer. That cloudiness comes from the yeast, the dry-hopping, and the oats that soften its texture.

If the West Coast IPA looks like it’s just come out of a beach bar in California, the East Coast version looks like it’s been blended in a juice bar in Vermont.

Bitterness and Bite

West Coast: Bitter, piney, and resinous; this is the hop lover’s beer. The bitterness hits first, then lingers, giving way to grapefruit and citrus peel. It’s bold, brash, and unapologetic, exactly how I like it. For me, a good West Coast IPA should be crisp, refreshing, and dry enough to make you want another sip straight away.

East Coast: Much gentler, with bitterness taking a back seat to soft, juicy fruit flavour, mango, peach, pineapple, and orange. The hops are there, but they’re wrapped in sweetness and haze, creating a silky mouthfeel that feels more like fruit salad than forest.

Hops and Yeast

West Coast: Built on the classic American “C” hops ... Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, Citra, and their mates, bringing pine, grapefruit, and resinous aroma. The yeast is clean-fermenting, so the hops shine through crystal clear.

East Coast: Often uses modern hop varieties with more tropical and floral notes ... Mosaic, Galaxy, Sabro, and the like, alongside a yeast that adds fruity esters and that trademark haze.

The result? West Coast beers are all about clarity and bite; East Coast beers are soft, fruity, and lush.

Flavour and Feel

West Coast: Bold, crisp, and dry with a sharp bitterness that snaps at the finish. They’re refreshing, thirst-quenching, and built for hopheads who love that piney, resinous punch.

East Coast: Smooth, juicy, and almost creamy on the tongue. The flavour’s layered and soft, less bite, more fruit.

If the West Coast IPA is like a walk through a pine forest on a cool day, the East Coast version is a tropical holiday in a glass.

Enter the Middle Child: The Mountain IPA

Just when we thought we had it all figured out, along came the Mountain IPA, a fusion of both styles that sits somewhere in between.

Mountain IPAs blend the crisp bitterness and dry finish of a West Coast with the juicy fruitiness and haze of an East Coast. You’ll often find a bit of haze, but not full cloudiness; plenty of hops, but a smoother bitterness; fruit notes up front, with that satisfying pine snap at the end.

They’re designed for drinkers who want the best of both worlds, big flavour, moderate haze, and a balanced bitterness that keeps things interesting.

In a way, Mountain IPAs prove that craft beer’s never still; it’s always exploring new ground.

So Which Should You Choose?

If you like your beer crisp, refreshing, and unapologetically bitter, you’ll find me standing firmly on the West Coast IPAs. There’s something timeless about that piney punch and clean finish that just hits the spot.

If you prefer your pint soft, juicy, and packed with tropical fruit flavours (a bit like a breakfast smoothie), then East Coast IPAs might be your new best friend.

And if you can’t decide, well, there’s a Mountain IPA with your name on it, ready to meet you halfway.

In truth, there’s no wrong answer. Each style has its charm, its loyal fans, and its perfect occasion. My advice? Try all three… purely in the name of research, of course.