pFriem + Fort George Vacation Destination West Coast IPA

The true beauty of craft brewing lies in collaboration. While recipes are written in ink, beers are shaped by process, temperature, and a brewer’s distinct philosophy. This collaboration between pFriem Family Brewers and Fort George Brewery is born from a simple, compelling experiment: take the exact same raw elements and watch two masters of the craft forge completely different paths.

The shared foundation begins with a meticulously engineered grain bill. Leaning heavily on a clean, crisp blend of premium Pilsner and Pale malts, the grist establishes a light, fermentable base with a remarkably clean color. To build essential texture without adding heavy, cloying sugars, both malted and unmalted wheat are introduced. This combination yields a versatile canvas.

Across this identical canvas, both breweries utilize an impactful hop bill: Eclipse, Krush, Citra Cryo, and Simcoe. This precise combination blends the legendary, pine-and-grapefruit foundation of classic Pacific Northwest brewing with the modern, high-impact tropical expression.

With the raw materials established, the magic of recipe balance and process takes over:

The pFriem West Coast IPA: At pFriem, the focus turns to clarity, brightness, and razor-sharp precision. Through targeted hot-side hop additions and a clean, attenuative fermentation, these shared ingredients are transformed into a brilliant, straw-hued West Coast IPA. The wheat provides just enough body to give the hops traction, letting the resinous pine of Simcoe and the sharp citrus of Citra Cryo slice through with an assertive, satisfying bitterness and a bone-dry finish.

The Fort George Hazy IPA: Meanwhile, down by the coast, Fort George coaxes these exact same raw materials into an opulent, opaque cloud. Utilizing a distinct yeast strain and massive, bio-transformative dry-hop additions, the wheat is activated to form a plush, pillowy-soft mouthfeel. The bitter edge is rounded out entirely, allowing the sweet mandarin notes of Eclipse and the ripe, stone-fruit luxury of Krush to present as a velvety, juicy sensory experience.

This collaboration is more than just a pair of world-class IPAs; it is an exploration of brewing synergy. It serves as a living masterclass for the curious palate, proving that even when we start at the exact same place, the choices we make along the way can yield two entirely unique, yet beautifully complementary IPAs.