Beer Here: Go West! IPA

Anchor Brewing Company, one of the most venerable and celebrated craft breweries in American, has just announced its newest beer: Go West! IPA. With a recipe by new brewmaster Scott Ungermann, Go West follows the current trend of floral and tropical hop flavors and aromas, while also calling back to Anchor's lineage of making well-hopped yet supremely balanced IPAs.

Here is a release from Anchor:

San Francisco, CA (February 23, 2016) – Anchor Brewing Company announces the debut of Go West! IPA™, an adventurous new IPA inspired by the California Gold Rush and all those who Go West! 

Bright and golden in color, Go West! IPA (6.7% ABV) is made with pale 2-row barley malt and dry-hopped with a unique blend of 4 American hops in a new, custom built tank designed to enhance the hop aroma.  Anchor’s newly appointed Brewmaster, Scott Ungermann, oversaw the design and creation of this innovative dry-hopping process. For decades, Anchor has honored traditional brewing methods and the art of handcrafted beer. Under the direction of Ungermann, Anchor combined those time-honored brewing traditions with an innovative brewing technique to create Go West! IPA. The final result boasts moutherwateringly complex aromas of citrus, pine and the tropics with a spiky bitterness and clean finish that leaves you wanting more. 

Ungermann previously served as Vice President of Production for Anchor Brewers & Distillers.  This month, Anchor announces his new role as Brewmaster.  Veteran Brewmaster Mark Carpenter now transitions to the role of Brewmaster Emeritus where he will continue to support the development of new beers, as well as brewery and industry events. Carpenter, who began his career as one of five employees at Anchor in 1971, is credited as a key figure in the American Craft Brewing Revolution.  Carpenter passes the baton to Ungermann as Anchor sets their sights on new developments in 2016, starting with the adventurous Go West! IPA.

“We had a lot of fun creating this beer, brewing and tasting several prototypes looking for the perfect hop blend for our new IPA,” said Anchor Brewmaster Scott Ungermann.  “In Go West! IPA we use 100% pale 2-row malt, Apollo and Bravo hops in the kettle, and a blend of Citra, Equinox, Calypso, and Eureka! hops for the dry hopping process. To achieve a stronger and brighter hop aroma, we built a completely new, custom piece of equipment used in the cellar that continually filters the beer through whole cone hops during the dry-hopping process. This gives the beer its hop-forward, complex aroma of citrus, pine and tropical fruit. The end result is an IPA that is golden in color and light in body with an elevated bitterness followed by a hoppy zest and clean finish. This beer is refreshing and drinkable, but robust and complex enough to satisfy the never-ending quest for new and original hop character.”  

The California Gold Rush compelled thousands to Go West! “to see the elephant,” a metaphor for the doggedly optimistic risk-taking linked then and now with America’s pursuit of adventure. As early as 1849, India Pale Ale, prepared by British brewers for export to India by adding dry hops to barrels of hoppy ale, was also going west to San Francisco. In 1975, Anchor, America’s first craft brewery, led the modern revival of dry-hopping handmade ales and continues that tradition with the release of Go West! IPA. 

Go West! IPA is available nationwide in 6-packs, 12-packs, cans, and on draught in select bars, restaurants, and stores including the Anchor Brewing Taproom and the Anchor Brewing Beer Garden at The Yard in San Francisco.

(Photo Courtesy of Anchor Brewing Co.)