Hop Suisse is a 6.9% double dry-hopped West Coast IPA from Carlsbad’s Burgeon Beer Co., brewed in collaboration with WhiteFrontier, a brewery in Martigny, Switzerland. It came out Friday, Oct. 9, in 4-packs and on draft, alongside a new hazy IPA called Freaky Tiki, according to Burgeon’s release post.
A San Diego County brewery and an Alpine brewery walked into a brewhouse. The Bureau has no punchline, only a hop bill.
What’s in Hop Suisse
Burgeon calls Hop Suisse a “double dry hopped westie where the Alps meet the West Coast,” and helpfully translates the name as “Hop Swiss” for anyone who skipped French class. The spec sheet, per the brewery:
- Style: double dry-hopped West Coast IPA
- ABV: 6.9%
- Hops: Citra, Simcoe, Krush, Nectaron and Waimea hop products
- Brewery’s tasting notes: ripe mango, bright orange and touches of stone fruit
- Package: 4-pack cans
Those flavor descriptions are Burgeon’s. The Bureau has not sampled the specimen, so no field analysis of the liquid appears here.
WhiteFrontier’s own site describes a taproom in Martigny, in the canton of Valais, with 20 beers on tap overlooking the brewery and a large beer garden, under the slogan “Craft your life.” Neither brewery’s announcement says whether Hop Suisse will be poured in Switzerland.
Freaky Tiki, the other half of the drop
Burgeon’s Oct. 5 announcement billed the pair as “coming down from the highest peaks to close out the week.” Freaky Tiki is a 6.4% hazy IPA with Dolcita Lupocore, Cashmere, Comet, Elani and Amarillo Cryo. Burgeon describes peach and coconut with notes of pineapple and tangerine.
One beer pointed at the Alps, one at an imaginary island. Earthlings rarely choose a single destination when two are available.
Where to find Hop Suisse
Burgeon said both beers would pour starting Friday with 4-packs to go. San Diego Beer News’ What’s Tapping list for Oct. 8 places both at Burgeon’s locations in Carlsbad, Vista, Escondido and downtown San Diego, with online ordering. Burgeon’s branches page lists those as the Carlsbad Taproom, Grove in Vista, Oasis in Escondido and Arbor in Little Italy.
Neither announcement lists a price or says how long the 4-packs will last, so check Burgeon’s online shop or call ahead before making the trip.
Collecting West Coast IPA collaborations? The Bureau also logged Cellarmaker and Brujos’ The Ghost I Used To Be. The westie, it seems, still travels well.
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