Beer Review: Ghost Town / Cellarmaker Spirit In Black West Coast IPA
Style: West Coast IPA
ABV: 7.0%
IBU: Not listed (but expect solid West Coast bitterness)
Brewery: Ghost Town Brewing (Oakland, CA) & Cellarmaker Brewing Co. (San Francisco, CA) – Collaboration
Hops: Citra, Mosaic, Galaxy, Cascade
Appearance: Pours a clear, brilliant golden-amber color, characteristic of a classic West Coast IPA. It’s wonderfully bright and translucent. A persistent, creamy white head forms, leaving behind excellent lacing as it slowly dissipates, clinging to the sides of the glass. This is exactly what you want to see from the style.
Aroma: The aroma is a vibrant and pungent explosion of classic West Coast hop goodness, with a touch of modern flair from the hop blend. There’s a strong wave of dank, resinous pine and grapefruit zest, indicative of the Cascade and Mosaic. Citra and Galaxy add layers of bright tropical fruit – think passionfruit, mango, and a hint of lime – which elevate the traditional notes. It’s intensely aromatic, with a noticeable underlying malt sweetness that suggests a balanced profile.
Taste: “Spirit In Black” truly shines on the palate. It hits with a powerful, yet balanced, hop bitterness right from the start, a hallmark of a great West Coast IPA. The flavor profile mirrors the aroma, leading with assertive notes of grapefruit rind, pine resin, and a distinct herbal dankness. The tropical fruit characteristics from Citra and Galaxy are present, providing a juicy counterpoint that prevents the bitterness from becoming overwhelming. There’s a clean, subtly sweet malt backbone that supports the hop onslaught, offering just enough balance. The bitterness is firm and lingers pleasantly on the finish, making you want another sip. It’s incredibly clean and crisp, without any cloying sweetness.
Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, with a crisp and dry finish that is incredibly refreshing. The carbonation is lively, enhancing the hop bite and contributing to its crushability. It has that signature “sticky” resinous feel on the palate that true West Coast IPA lovers crave, followed by a clean exit. Despite the intensity of the hops, it feels remarkably smooth.
Ghost Town and Cellarmaker have absolutely crushed it with “Spirit In Black.” This is a quintessential modern West Coast IPA, expertly balancing classic pine and grapefruit bitterness with the juicy, tropical notes of contemporary hops. It’s incredibly aromatic, assertively bitter, yet remarkably drinkable and clean. The collaboration clearly brought out the best in both breweries, delivering a complex and satisfying hop experience that’s both nostalgic and forward-thinking. If you’re a fan of West Coast IPAs – especially those with a strong dank and citrus profile – this is an absolute must-try. This beer makes you remember why you fell in love with IPAs in the first place.