Columbus & Rakau

Tasting Notes

This is a West Coast IPA built around two assertive hop varieties — Columbus brings dank, resinous, almost diesel-like bitterness with earthy depth, while Rakau (a New Zealand hop) layers in stone fruit and herbal pine notes. The bittering is firm and forward, as is typical of the style, with the finish staying dry and lingering rather than fading quickly. Body is moderate-to-lean, keeping the hop character front and center without sweetness muddying the picture. If you have specific expectations of this beer, note that I'm working from the hop and style profile rather than direct tasting experience.

About the Brewery

I don't have specific information about ETKO Brewing in my knowledge base, so I can't reliably describe their location, founding, or lineup without risking fabrication.

Food Pairings

The dank, resinous bitterness here cuts well against fatty foods — a well-marbled burger or a greasy pepperoni pizza both give the hops something to push against. Sharp aged cheddar mirrors the earthy intensity of Columbus while letting the fruitier Rakau character come through. Spiced dishes like a Thai green curry or fish tacos with pickled slaw provide contrast that keeps the bitterness from feeling aggressive. Grilled sausages, especially ones with fennel or garlic, also tend to work well alongside this style's assertive dry finish.

Style Guide

West Coast IPA is defined by prominent, often aggressive hop bitterness, a dry finish, and hop-forward aromatics that lean toward resin, pine, citrus, and earth rather than the juicy, haze-forward softness of New England IPA. The style was popularized by California breweries in the late 1990s and 2000s and became the default benchmark for American craft IPA for over a decade. Malt is deliberately understated — just enough to provide structure — so bitterness and hop aroma are the main event. ABV typically sits between 6–7.5%, making this example at 5.5% a session-leaning take on the style without fundamentally changing its character.