Beer Review: Ghost Town / Brix Factory — Sunripper West Coast IPA
When you see a collaboration between Ghost Town and Brix Factory, you know two things: the hops will be state-of-the-art, and the finish will be cleaner than a Bernal Heights sunrise. Sunripper is a 6.9% ABV masterclass in the “Modern West Coast” style, crystalline in clarity but explosive in tropical intensity.
The Specs
Style: Modern West Coast IPA
ABV: 6.9%
Hops: Tangier, Nectaron, Nectaron Cryo, and Columbus Cryo.
Brewery: Ghost Town Brewing (Oakland) x Brix Factory Brewing (Oakland).
The Profile
The Appearance:
True to the “West Coast or Die” ethos, Sunripper pours a brilliant, glowing straw-gold. It’s strikingly clear, topped with a frothy white head that leaves consistent, sticky lacing. It’s the visual antithesis of the Noxious hazy we reviewed earlier.
The Nose:
The aroma is an absolute “sun-burst.” The Tangier hops lead with a bright, zesty tangerine peel scent, while the Nectaron (and its concentrated Cryo counterpart) adds a massive layer of stone fruit, specifically nectarine and bruised peach. The Columbus Cryo provides a grounding, resinous “dank” backnote that prevents the fruit from feeling too “juice-box” sweet.
The Palate:
Front: A sharp, effervescent entry of pink grapefruit and tangerine juice.
Mid: Remarkably lean. Ghost Town is famous for its “stinging physical sensation” of hops, and here it manifests as a vibrating citrus oil flavor that coats the tongue without any heavy malt “breadiness.”
Finish: Bone-dry. The bitterness is firm but sophisticated; it doesn’t scratch the throat; it cleanses the palate. You’re left with a lingering snap of pine resin and a ghost of tropical fruit.
The Verdict:
This is arguably the “Beer of the Week” for those who prefer clarity over haze. By using Cryo hops (concentrated lupulin), they’ve achieved the hop saturation of a Triple IPA while keeping it at a very dangerous 6.9%. It captures the best of both worlds: the nostalgic bitterness of a classic San Francisco IPA and the lush, “punchy” fruit of modern breeding.