East Meets West IPA is an American IPA that was collaboratively brewed by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and the Tree House Brewing Company. Part of the Beer Camp Across the World, this brew mixes West Coast malts and the hopping technique that’s popular in New England style brews.
For the purposes of this review, the beer was served in an IPA glass.
Appearance
Pours a somewhat cloudy marigold but not with the haze you’d see in a New England IPA. The ale is capped by a thick, puffy, white foam that shows excellent retention. Small patches of sticky lace appear as the head recedes and soon become gobs during consumption. Effervescence is visibly apparent in the glass.
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Aroma
A pleasant aroma wafts a scent of juicy tropical fruit and fresh pine needles.
Flavor
The palate begins with a taste of cracker malt and shifts to a hoppy bite that mixes notes of pine, grass, and elderflower. The tasting bitterly crests to flavors of grapefruit and lemon citrus that mellows with a slight sweetness of pineapple and mango.
Mouthfeel
Mouthfeel has a lively feel with a medium body with ample carbonation.
Overall
It’s possible I may have set my expectations too high for this brew. I intentionally saved the East Meets West IPA for last (figuring it would be my favorite) and had been looking forward to trying it since purchasing it a few weeks prior. (On that note, perhaps I had waited too long). Regardless, in the end, I thought it came up a just shy of being perfect. That being said, I still really enjoyed it, and it is one of my favorites from the collection.
Its appearance is fine but might disappoint those accustomed to seeing Tree House brews. In spite of its relatively high ABV, the ale is light and easily quaffed. Flavor is juicy with citrus but not dank with resin. Had it been any other brew, I’m sure I would’ve loved it so much more. Regardless, there’s still a lot going on in this beer for everyone to enjoy.
