Beer Review: Cellarmaker Otto’s Jacket West Coast IPA
Brewery: Cellarmaker Brewing Co. (San Francisco, CA)
Style: West Coast IPA ABV: 7.0%
Hops: Citra, Motueka, Mosaic, HBC 586
In a world where ‘IPA’ often means ‘hazy fruit juice,’ Cellarmaker remains a master of the clear, bitter, and beautifully aromatic West Coast standard. Otto’s Jacket is a testament to that dedication. The name is a direct nod to a Simpsons quote (“Otto’s jacket smells like weed”), and the beer delivers on that olfactory promise.
Appearance
This is a picture-perfect West Coast specimen. It pours a crystal-clear, brilliant, bright gold with orange highlights, appearing lively in the glass. A dense, rocky white head forms and clings, leaving thick, beautiful lacing as it slowly recedes.
Aroma
The moment you raise the glass, you are hit with a wave of “Danktown.” The nose is exceptionally pungent. It leads with a massive burst of sticky pine sap and damp earth, followed closely by a terpene-rich cannabis profile. As it opens up, notes of candied lemon peel, lime zest, and unripe papaya emerge. The aroma is sharp, clean, and aggressively hoppy, yet refined.
Palate & Flavor
The first sip is a refreshing shock to the system for those used to softer IPAs. Otto’s Jacket has a firm, clean bitterness that grips the palate immediately. The flavor profile leads with drippy pine and resin, transitioning into a bright, saturated citrus splash (grapefruit and lime). There is a clean, minimal, crackery malt base that only exists to provide a canvas for the hops.
Mouthfeel & Finish
The body is medium-light, crisp, and arid. This beer is exceptionally dry. The carbonation is prickly and vibrant, keeping the beer from feeling heavy despite its 7% ABV. It finishes exceptionally clean, leaving a lingering, pleasing bitterness on the back of the tongue that invites the next sip.
Cellarmaker Otto’s Jacket is a world-class example of a modern West Coast IPA. It is aggressively aromatic, satisfyingly bitter, and wonderfully dry. This is technical brewing at its finest, a clear, precise beer that celebrates the complexity of the hop cone without falling back on sweetness. It is mandatory drinking for any fan of the style.
Available at SF Tequila Shop
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