Malt aroma & flavor
Low to medium-low. Caramel or roasted malt character should not be present.
North American Origin Ale Styles
West Coast-Style India Pale Ale
Ale · Straw to gold
What to expect
High to very high hop aroma and flavor, with medium-high to very high bitterness. Malt stays restrained; caramel and roasted malt character should be absent.
Reading guide · The complete guideline attributes below preserve the source’s qualifications.Color · SRM
2–6
Pale / strawBlack
Straw to gold · Illustrative colors on the shared, uneven SRM scale.
Explore styles overlapping this color rangeAlcohol · ABV
6.3–7.5%
Reference scale, not a limit on official guideline values.
Bitterness · IBU
50–75
Measured bitterness; perceived bitterness is described in the guideline below.
Brewers Association 2026 · Printed guideline page 11 · PDF page 20. Color graphics are illustrative.
The guideline, in detail
Official style attributes, including what may be present and what should be absent.
Hop aroma & flavor
High to very high, exhibiting a wide range of attributes including floral, piney, citrus, fruity (berry, tropical, stone fruit and other), sulfur, diesel-like, catty, resinous, and many others.
Perceived bitterness
Medium-high to very high, but not harsh.
Body & mouthfeel
Low to medium
Clarity
Chill haze or hop haze is acceptable at low levels
Color
Straw to gold
Fermentation characteristics
Fruity esters range from low to medium. DMS, acetaldehyde, and diacetyl should not be present. These beers are characterized by a high degree of attenuation.
Additional guideline notes & competition context
These beers are highly attenuated with an assertive hop character and a dry, crisp finish. While the West Coast-Style India Pale Ale has been around for some time, the style itself has progressed over time from original inception to modern day examples-this guideline serves to align directly with modern-day examples of the style.
Technical specifications, including gravity
Original Gravity (°Plato) 1.055-1.070 (13.5-17.1 °Plato) • Apparent Extract/Final Gravity (°Plato) 1.005-1.012 (1.5-3.0 °Plato) • Alcohol by Weight (Volume) 5.0%-6.0% (6.3%-7.5%) • Hop Bitterness (IBU) 50-75 • Color SRM (EBC) 2-6 (4-12 EBC)