We’re up to number 16 now on the West Coast Full Hop Alchemist series, with this version following a similar idea to the others, in that it its an 8.5% hazy double IPA that has been loaded up with hops. This version though uses Sabro, Strata, and Sultana, though that last one I had to check to make sure it was a real hop, and not some kind of shrivelled up fruit that WBC had put in – they are known for using some adjuncts that could be considered, well, unusual. Besides that, the base of the malt is supposedly the same as the other Full Hop Alchemists.
At A Glance
Alcohol: 8.5%
Style: Hazy Double IPA
IBU: Unknown
Hops: Sabro, Strata, Sultana
Availability: Limited
Size: 500ml
Price: From 1,100yen
On Sale: From July 2021
Notable Aromas: Melon to grapefruit with slight astringent flavour. Sharp alcohol heat when warm though no burn.
West Coast Full Hop Alchemist V16 Full Review
This beer is hazy to say the least – the picture above really shows how hazy a hazy double IPA is with it looking more like a pint of orange juice with bits in it. Thankfully though there were no bits floating around in the beer. There was a thin amount of pure white head on top that faded to a thin ring around the side of the glass – not much remained from that original amount. The aroma started off with a melon like smell coming off, with it going to grapefruit and some lemon too, once the beer hard warmed up. West Coast Full Hop Alchemist V16 did have some sweetness coming off the malts but with this being heavily dry hopped, it was the hops that were the dominant aroma throughout drinking.
The body was a different story to the nose. While the hops brought forward a fruity melon and grapefruit flavour, I really couldn’t help but notice the alcohol heat to West Coast Full Hop Alchemist V16. It was prominent throughout drinking too – with it only getting stronger as the beer got warmer. Combine this with the astringency from the flavours, West Coast Full Hop Alchemist V16 is not a beer for those new to IPAs – in fact, I would go so much to say that this is a beer for hop heads who are trying to push their taste buds to the max. The heat lingered on into the aftertaste, with my throat feeling like it had been burnt by something hot.
West Coast Full Hop Alchemist V16 The Bottom Line
West Coast Full Hop Alchemist V16 reminded me somewhat of the Green Flash Palate Wrecker back in the day – massive amounts of hops to deliberately destroy your taste buds so everything after tasted bland.
