West Sixth Brewing - Hop Static Ch. 3

This is the third beer of West Sixth's rotator IPA series, which has impressed us greatly so far. Presenting a golden copper hue under a generous cap of sticky foam, Hop Static Ch. 3 bursts with luscious notes of tropical fruit evoking mango, passion fruit, and pineapple, along with dank and resinous pine, some citrus notes of tangerine and grapefruit, and a dash of berry. Those juicy and resinous qualities come forth quite prominently on the palate, too, as they augment a firm 60 IBUs of hop bitterness for a drying character that's matched well to the robust malt core, which offers a solid dose of caramelization without overplaying its part. Those fruity and piney hop characteristics come through wonderfully juicy and zesty within a medium body, making for a deliciously hoppy and satisfying brew. For pairing options, we're thinking spicy pizzas and calzones will work nicely with both the hop and malt character, along with Indian and southeast Asian cuisine, or Cuban chicken with mojo sauce. Cheers!

West Sixth Brewing hit our radar pretty early on after they were founded in 2012, and this sustainability-minded brewery in Kentucky has been making some exceptional beers that see very modest distribution. From their core year-round IPA (packed with Cascade, Centennial, Citra, and CTZ hops) to more occasional offerings like their exceptional Christmas Ale and imperial stout releases, West Sixth has been continually knocking it out of the park. The brewery distributes solely in its home state of Kentucky and nearby areas, but the local emphasis has also helped them grow in leaps and bounds over the past few years.

West Sixth currently operates a taproom at their brewery in downtown Lexington in the historic Bread Box building, along with a brewery and taproom in Louisville’s trendy NuLu neighborhood. There’s also the brewery’s West Sixth Farm, a 120-acre property in Franklin on which West Sixth grows all kinds of different regional ingredients for their beers: hops, blackberries, raspberries, cider apples, and more. A small fourth location serves visitors to Newport’s Bridgeview Box Park.

In addition to world-class beers, we appreciate the mindfulness West Sixth shows toward the surrounding communities, as well as their efforts toward environmental sustainability. Along with supporting nonprofits through campaigns like Sixth for a Cause, Wooden Nickel, Pay It Forward Cocoa Porter, and Pedaling for a Purpose, the brewery also releases a sustainability report each year—highlighting efforts in areas like farming and land management practices, resource utilization/recycling, charitable giving, and community involvement. For more info, give 'em a ring at 859-705-0915 or visit them at www.westsixth.com.