Maisel & Friends West Coast IPA is a modern California-style IPA from the craft beer line of the Gebr. Maisel brewery in Bayreuth, designed to bring the sun of the American West Coast into the glass under the motto "Enjoy the California sun." This top-fermented beer with 6.6% ABV, an original gravity of 14.7 °P, and around 55 to 60 IBU is brewed from Fichtelgebirge water, barley malt, hops, and yeast, with the hop varieties Idaho 7, Citra, and Simcoe providing its intense aroma. In the glass, it shines honey-colored to golden, slightly cloudy, with a stable, creamy foam crown, and the bouquet reveals pineapple, lychee, passion fruit, mango, orange, lemon, and apricot, complemented by a hint of pine and a slightly resinous undertone. On the palate, the tropical fruit notes continue with orange and citrus peels, supported by a soft, full-bodied entry and a mild malt sweetness that contrasts with the characteristic bitterness, finishing in a dry, bitter-sour, and fruity aftertaste. The beer is served at about 6 to 8 °C, is vegan, and was awarded Gold in the Germany category at the 2024 World Beer Awards and Bronze at the 2025 Brussels Beer Challenge. Bottled in a 0.33-liter bottle, it contains gluten-containing grains.
