Beer Review: Ghost Town Brewing – Scaphism West Coast IPA
Style: West Coast IPA
ABV: 7.0%
Hops: Mosaic & Simcoe
Brewery Location: Oakland, California
If you ever need a reminder of why Northern California helped define the West Coast IPA, look no further than Scaphism. Fresh off securing a well-deserved Gold Medal at the 2026 Japan Brewers’ Cup, this 7% ABV powerhouse from Ghost Town Brewing is a brilliant reminder that classic, unapologetic bitterness is alive and well. It is a masterfully crafted beer that leans heavily into a sinisterly dank, complex hop profile, making it a mandatory pour for West Coast purists.
Appearance
Scaphism pours a stunning, crystal-clear, deep golden amber, looking every bit the part of a traditional West Coast icon. It builds a thick, frothy, off-white head with fantastic retention. As you drink, it leaves behind a sticky, web-like trail of lacing on the glass, hinting at the high concentration of hop oils waiting inside.
Aroma
The nose on this beer is incredibly loud, complex, and unashamedly pungent. It opens with an aggressive wave of damp pine and sticky resin. Once the initial dankness clears, the Mosaic and Simcoe hops show off their range, throwing off vibrant aromas of wild blueberries and dark blackberries, along with a sharp, zesty punch of white grapefruit pith.
Palate & Mouthfeel
On the palate, Scaphism delivers exactly what the nose promises. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied, sharp, and beautifully crisp with a classic dry finish. There is zero flab or cloying sweetness here—just clean, deliberate execution.
The flavor profile kicks off with a brief flash of dark berry sweetness, think ripe blackberry and blueberry, before immediately being swept away by a tidal wave of resinous pine sap and bitter grapefruit peel. The 7% ABV is hidden dangerously well, offering just a clean, subtle warmth that amplifies the intense hop character rather than distracting from it.
Finish
The finish is where Scaphism cements its status as an elite. It is bracingly bitter, clean, and incredibly dry. A lingering combo of pine resin and sharp citrus oils coats the back of the palate, keeping things refreshing and practically forcing you to take another sip. Ghost Town manages to extract massive bitterness without any of the astringency or harshness that lesser IPAs stumble into.
Scaphism is a triumphant, beautifully aggressive West Coast IPA. Ghost Town Brewing has taken a classic hop pairing and coaxed out an incredible balance of deep berry notes, heavy resin, and a pristine bitter finish. It is loud, it is dank, and it proves exactly why it is an international award-winner. If you appreciate clean lines, bright clarity, and a proper hop bite, do not pass this one up.
Please Note: To ensure absolute freshness and optimal storage temperatures, all craft beer arrivals are sold exclusively in-store and are not available for online ordering.
Available at SF Tequila Shop
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