By Unseen Brewing Co. | Beer Guide | Read: ~5 min
West Coast IPA was born on the American Pacific coast in the 1990s — built around one core principle: dry, bitter, clear. No compromise, no sweetness to soften the edge. Clear Cut, 6.9% ABV, Citra, Simcoe and Nelson Sauvin, is our direct answer to that tradition.
What is a West Coast IPA?
Born in the craft breweries of San Diego and San Francisco, the West Coast IPA became the defining style of the American craft revolution of the 1990s and 2000s. Unlike its cousin the NEIPA, it doesn't chase roundness or juicy density — it chases definition.
Visually, it stands out through clarity: golden to amber, crystal clear, with a tight white head. No haze, no opacity. What you see is what you drink.
On the palate, the attack is direct. Bitterness arrives fast, clean, resinous or tropical depending on the hops. The body is dry, medium to light. The finish is long and persistent — a bitterness that lingers without weighing you down.
West Coast IPA vs NEIPA: two philosophies
The confusion between West Coast IPA and NEIPA is understandable — both are modern hop-forward IPAs. But that's where the resemblance ends.
NEIPA plays the density and fruit card: hazy, loaded with oats and wheat, juicy, with low bitterness. It wraps around you. West Coast IPA cuts through. It favors dryness over roundness, clarity over haze, defined bitterness over soft impressions.
These aren't two levels of quality — they're two different intentions. West Coast IPA for those who want a beer that stands its ground.
The hops in Clear Cut: Citra, Simcoe, Nelson Sauvin
Citra is the hop of tropical precision: grapefruit, passion fruit, lychee. One of the highest aromatic intensities on the market, with a clean profile that stays in its lane. In Clear Cut, it lays down the fruity base — sharp, never muddled.
Simcoe brings the resin. Pine, damp earth, dark citrus. It's the hop that anchors the beer, giving it its backbone. Without Simcoe, Citra would float. Together, they create tension between brightness and depth.
Nelson Sauvin is the third element — and the least expected. From New Zealand, it brings white wine notes, white grape, almost vinous. In a West Coast IPA, it's a deliberate call: adding a dimension that American hops alone don't reach.
These three hops don't stack on top of each other — they complement. The result is an aromatic profile that evolves from nose to finish.
Dry hopping: why it matters
Dry hopping — adding hops cold, after fermentation — is the technique that defines the aromatic intensity of a modern IPA. In a West Coast, its role is precise: amplify aromas without adding extra bitterness.
Unlike hot-side hopping, which extracts primarily alpha acids responsible for bitterness, dry hopping extracts volatile essential oils — the ones that deliver fruity, resinous, and floral aromas.
In Clear Cut, dry hopping happens in a closed fermenter at low temperature, to preserve the delicate oils from Citra and Nelson Sauvin. What you smell in the glass is the direct result of that temperature control. The beer's clarity comes from careful post-fermentation filtration — a deliberate choice: we could have left it hazy. We didn't.
Clear Cut: West Coast IPA, Unseen-style
The name isn't a vague metaphor. Clear Cut means exactly what it says — a clean decision with no room for interpretation. That's exactly what this beer does in the glass.
6.9% ABV: not too low to lack presence, not too high to mask the hops. A deliberate balance that lets the aromatic profile speak without being crushed by alcohol.
On the nose: pink grapefruit, slightly musky white grape, a hint of pine resin. Citra and Nelson Sauvin share the foreground. Simcoe waits in the background.
On the palate: the attack is dry and direct. Bitterness arrives mid-palate — resinous, long, without aggression. The body is medium, never heavy. The finish is dry, persistent, with a light citrus return.
This is a beer for those who want an IPA that stands its ground — not sweetened, not rounded off to please everyone. Precise, dry, direct. That's Unseen.
FAQ
What's the difference between a West Coast IPA and a NEIPA?
West Coast IPA is dry, clear, and leads with bitterness. NEIPA is hazy, juicy, with low bitterness and a rounder texture. Two styles, two intentions. Clear Cut plays in the first category: no haze, no apologies.
Why three different hops in Clear Cut?
Citra, Simcoe and Nelson Sauvin each bring a distinct register: tropical fruit, resin, vinous notes. A single hop would have been one-dimensional. The blend creates an aromatic tension that evolves from nose to finish.
Is Clear Cut a very bitter beer?
It's bitter — deliberate, measured, not aggressive. The IBU is calibrated so bitterness is present and persistent without dominating the aromatic profile. If you're looking for an IPA that doesn't apologize for its bitterness, you're in the right place.
Where to buy Clear Cut?
Available at www.unseenbc.com and through selected Belgian distribution. Check the product page for stockists near you.