West Coast IPA is the original American IPA template: clear, dry and assertively bitter, built around piney and citrus-forward hops with a lean malt bill that lets the hop bite come through unfiltered. Here are the best ones we have actually reviewed, ranked.
Best West Coast IPAs at a glance
| Rank | Beer | Score |
| #1 | Ballast Point Sculpin | 4.7/5 |
| #2 | Stone IPA | 4.5/5 |
| #3 | Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA | 4.4/5 |
| #4 | Lagunitas IPA | 4.3/5 |
| #5 | Cigar City Jai Alai | 4.3/5 |
| #6 | Elysian Space Dust | 4.2/5 |
| #7 | Breakside West Coast IPA | 4.1/5 |
#1: Ballast Point Sculpin
★★★★★ 4.7/5
The IPA that put West Coast bitterness and tropical hop aroma on equal footing. Grapefruit and mango up front, clean bitter finish, no sweetness left to soften it.
Read our full Ballast Point Sculpin review for the complete tasting notes, specs and where to buy.
#2: Stone IPA
★★★★☆ 4.5/5
The beer that made West Coast bitterness cool in the first place. Piney, resinous and unapologetically bitter, still the reference point for the style decades later.
Read our full Stone IPA review for the complete tasting notes, specs and where to buy.
#3: Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA
★★★★☆ 4.4/5
Sierra Nevada’s dry-hopped classic, built around their proprietary Hop Torpedo device. Bigger and hoppier than their standard Pale Ale, but still clean and balanced.
Read our full Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA review for the complete tasting notes, specs and where to buy.
#4: Lagunitas IPA
★★★★☆ 4.3/5
A well-rounded, crowd-pleasing West Coast IPA that never leans too far into bitterness. The easiest recommendation on this list for someone new to the style.
Read our full Lagunitas IPA review for the complete tasting notes, specs and where to buy.
#5: Cigar City Jai Alai
★★★★☆ 4.3/5
Florida’s flagship IPA, big and bold with a tropical hop character that stands out from the drier California originals.
Read our full Cigar City Jai Alai review for the complete tasting notes, specs and where to buy.
#6: Elysian Space Dust
★★★★☆ 4.2/5
A bright, punchy Seattle IPA with a citrusy hop bill that keeps it lively without tipping into imperial-strength territory.
Read our full Elysian Space Dust review for the complete tasting notes, specs and where to buy.
#7: Breakside West Coast IPA
★★★★☆ 4.1/5
Breakside’s newer year-round core beer, a clean, modern take on the West Coast template from a Portland brewery built on hop-forward beers.
Read our full Breakside West Coast IPA review for the complete tasting notes, specs and where to buy.
More IPA Guides
Want to see how West Coast stacks up against the rest of the style? See our full Best IPAs guide, our breakdown of the different IPA sub-styles, or the meaning behind the IPA name.
FAQ
What makes an IPA a West Coast IPA?
A clear, dry finish and assertive hop bitterness from piney and citrus-forward hop varieties like Cascade, Centennial and Simcoe, with a lean malt bill that does not soften the bitterness.
What is the best West Coast IPA?
Ballast Point Sculpin tops our list, balancing tropical hop aroma with a clean, bitter West Coast finish.
Is West Coast IPA the same as hazy IPA?
No. West Coast IPA pours clear and finishes dry and bitter. Hazy IPA pours cloudy and finishes soft and juicy with much less bitterness. See our full IPA styles breakdown for the difference.
Want a gluten-reduced option with the same citrus intensity? See our Stone Delicious IPA review.
