21st Amendment Brew Free! or Die IPA
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Tasting Notes
The nose opens with citrus peel, tropical fruit, and a light piney resin that signals a West Coast lean without going full dank. On the palate, grapefruit and stone fruit move up front, balanced by a firm but not aggressive bitterness that lingers through the finish. The body is medium, dry enough to keep things moving without feeling thin. It finishes clean with just enough hop residue to remind you it's a 7% IPA.
About the Brewery
21st Amendment is a San Francisco brewery founded in 2000 by Nico Freccia and Shaun O'Sullivan, named after the constitutional amendment that ended Prohibition. They were early adopters of the craft-in-cans movement, helping push the format toward legitimacy before it became standard practice. Their lineup leans toward approachable, well-executed American styles, and they maintain a taproom in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood. Hell or High Watermelon, their wheat ale brewed with real watermelon, became something of a cult seasonal hit.
Food Pairings
Burgers with sharp cheddar work well because the hop bitterness cuts through fat and the malt holds up to the beef. Spicy Thai or Vietnamese dishes find a counterpoint in the citrus hop character, which soothes heat without getting steamrolled by it. Fish tacos with lime crema echo the beer's citrus notes and keep the pairing light. Aged gouda or a sharp white cheddar on a cheese board picks up the resinous quality in the hops and plays off the dry finish.
Style Guide
American IPA is defined by pronounced hop character — bitterness, aroma, and flavor all pushed well beyond what you'd find in English or European pale ales. The style typically runs between 6% and 7.5% ABV, with a medium-dry body and enough malt backbone to keep things from tipping into pure bitterness. It diverged from its British ancestor by leaning on American hop varieties like Cascade, Centennial, and Simcoe, which deliver citrus, pine, and tropical fruit rather than floral or earthy tones. It remains one of the defining styles of the American craft beer movement.