Outland West Coast IPA: Have We Forgotten What IPA Should Taste Like?

This week on Beer, Together, we crack open a West Coast IPA that might just reset everything we thought we knew about modern craft beer.We’re drinking Outland Brewery’s West Coast IPA — now renamed Dead Reckoning — a 5% classic that leans hard into caramel malt, citrus hops, and that unmistakable dry bitterness.But this episode quickly becomes something bigger…Have we overcomplicated beer?Somewhere between hazy IPAs, NEIPAs, and fruit-loaded brews, have we forgotten what an IPA is actually meant to taste like?We dive into:What defines a true West Coast IPAWhy clarity used to matter (and why it doesn’t now)The role of malt vs hops in flavourWhether “craft beer” even needs a definitionAnd whether big brewers can still make “craft” beerWe also get into some proper pub nostalgia — Bass, London Pride, 6X — and how those beers shaped what we expect from a pint today.🍔 Food pairing?Think fatty, salty, bold:Smash burgersSausagesBBQ meatsMature cheddarFried chickenThis is a beer that doesn’t cuddle your food… it argues with it — and wins.⚔️ Choose Your FighterWe put it head-to-head with the reigning champion, Neck Oil, across:FlavourDrinkabilityOccasionAnd for the first time in weeks…We crown a new winner.This isn’t just about one beer — it’s about where beer culture is heading.👉 Are we chasing trends… or rediscovering what made beer great in the first place?🍺 Join the community:Instagram: @beertogether123Spotify: Follow + commentDownload the episode to support the show#beertogether #craftbeeruk #westcoastipa #ipa #beerpodcast #beertalk #drinkbetterbeer #indiebeer #beerlover #beerstagram #ukcraftbeer #podcastclips #newpodcast #beercommunity #hopheads