Review: Ghost Town Brewing – Sardonic West Coast IPA
Location: Oakland, CA
Style: West Coast IPA
ABV: 7.1%
If there is a brewery that owns the “New-School West Coast” crown in the East Bay, it’s Ghost Town. Sardonic is a perfect example of why. It doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel; instead, it polishes the wheel until it’s sharp enough to cut. Using the “big three” hops, Mosaic, Citra, and Simcoe, this beer is a masterclass in balance, bitterness, and clarity.
The Pour
Sardonic pours a stunning, translucent pale gold. It’s remarkably clear, looking like liquid sunshine in a glass, topped with a dense, white foam that clings to the sides of the pint like a coastal fog. If you’re tired of “murk,” this visual is a sight for sore eyes.
The Aroma
The nose is an absolute hop bomb. As soon as the can cracks, you’re hit with the Mosaic’s signature blueberry and dank “earthiness.” Give it a swirl, and the Citra kicks in with bright ripples of grapefruit peel and tangerine. There is a very faint, clean cracker-like malt scent in the background, but let’s be honest: you’re here for the lupulin.
The Flavor Profile
This is where the Simcoe makes its presence known.
Initial Hit: A bright flash of tropical citrus, think mango and passionfruit, that feels light and nimble.
Mid-Palate: The flavor shifts toward the resinous and “green.” It tastes like biting into a fresh hop cone or walking through a pine forest after a rainstorm.
The Finish: Brutally clean. The bitterness is firm and assertive (as a 7.1% West Coast should be), but it never becomes “muddy.” It finishes bone-dry, stripping the palate and leaving a lingering citrus-oil tingle.
The Verdict
Sardonic is a beer for people who actually like the taste of hops. It avoids the heavy, syrupy caramel malts of yesteryear, opting instead for a lean, athletic body that lets the Mosaic, Citra, and Simcoe shine. It’s sophisticated, aggressive, and undeniably Ghost Town.
Quick Take: This is “The Holy Trinity” of hops executed with surgical precision. It’s crisp, bitter, and dangerously easy to drink for 7.1%.