Hopsmith West Coast IPA - 500ml
Pour this and the first thing that hits you is hops, loud and proud: pine forest, grapefruit zest, a flick of tropical fruit. Then comes the bitterness, the proper West Coast kind that wakes your whole mouth up and finishes clean and dry. This is the beer you grab when a lager feels too quiet and you want something with an actual opinion. 5.5%, brewed right here in Kenya, and it slaps hardest against fire and salt and a loud table.
Big nose first: resinous pine and orange-grapefruit zest, with a little tropical fruit hiding underneath, all from the Chinook, Columbus and Centennial hops doing the heavy lifting. It pours clear gold under a frothy white head. The sip is a tug-of-war: just enough sweet malt to hold the floor, then a bold, dry hop bitterness (around 50 IBU) that snaps it crisp and leaves you reaching for the next one. Bold, not subtle, and that's the whole point.
The details
Pairs well with
Where it's from
Hopsmith is a Kenyan craft outfit with a fun backstory. It was brought over in 2019 by Mark Genders, a UK brewer who'd run a stack of pubs and his own brewery back home, then teamed up with an old friend who shared the dream of a proper local craft beer. Licensing in Kenya was glacial, so instead of waiting years they bought the already-licensed Wananchi Breweries outright and got brewing. The result is craft beer made in Kenya, for Kenya, with none of the timidity.
Good to know
- What is the price of Hopsmith West Coast IPA - 500ml?
Hopsmith West Coast IPA - 500ml is KSh 430 at Oaks & Corks. Order online for delivery in 30 minutes for most areas in Nairobi, or next day countrywide.
- What does Hopsmith West Coast IPA 500ml taste like?
Big hop-forward flavour: resinous pine and citrus zest on the nose, a touch of tropical fruit, and a bold, dry bitterness (around 50 IBU) balanced by just enough malt. Clear gold, crisp finish, not shy.
- What is the ABV of Hopsmith West Coast IPA?
It's 5.5% ABV, in a 500ml bottle. Sturdy enough to feel like a treat, sessionable enough for a second.
- How do I serve it?
Cold, around 4 to 6 degrees, poured into a tulip or pint glass with a good head so you get all that pine and citrus aroma. Drink it fresh for the fullest hop punch.
- What food pairs with it?
Anything bold. Nyama choma, spicy wings, burgers, goat curry, sharp cheese. The hop bitterness cuts through fat, char and heat beautifully.
- Where is it from?
It's a Kenyan craft beer from Hopsmith, brewed locally at Wananchi Breweries. The brand was started in 2019 by a UK brewer and a Kenyan partner.
- What's the difference between a West Coast IPA and a regular IPA?
A West Coast IPA leans clear, dry and assertively bitter with piney, citrusy hops, rather than the hazy, juicy, softer style. This one is firmly in that bold, crisp West Coast camp.
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Hopsmith West Coast IPA - 500ml price in Kenya
Buy Hopsmith West Coast IPA - 500ml online in Nairobi, Kenya for KSh 430. Order now for fast delivery across Nairobi — usually within 30 minutes — or next-day delivery countrywide.