Winter IPA

Faction Brewing — Alameda, CA

12 Jan 2025 · Stephen

IPA Faction Brewing

7.2% ABV

Golden, light amber Color

Contributing Factors

Presentation ✓

Character ✓

Experience –

Return –

2 / 4 A solid effort

Tasting Notes

Appearance Golden to light amber, clear with a persistent white head. Faction's beers are known for clean, classic presentation, and Winter IPA delivers exactly that — nothing hazy, nothing obscuring the whole cone clarity.

Aroma Whole cone Citra and Simcoe together produce something distinctly different from their pellet counterparts. The Citra brings its classic orange, tangerine, and tropical fruit, but with a fresher, almost green quality that whole cone addition preserves — like citrus zest rather than citrus juice. The Simcoe adds its resinous pine and earthy dankness underneath, also benefiting from the whole cone freshness. The combined aroma is bright, expressive, and seasonal in a way that a pellet-hopped beer can't quite replicate.

Palate Medium-full body for 7.2%, well-balanced with the citrus and tropical fruit from the Citra carrying through the middle alongside the Simcoe pine and resin building behind it. No weird astringency — that's the whole cone quality showing through, producing a cleaner bitterness profile than heavily processed hop additions. Moderate, well-integrated bitterness that sits comfortably behind the fruit without dominating.

Finish Dry and resinous with a lingering citrus-pine quality — both the Citra orange note and the Simcoe pine dankness present and holding their own through the back palate. Medium-long length, clean, and refreshing despite the 7.2% ABV. Faction built this for winter drinking, not winter sitting.

The Verdict

Faction's annual whole cone Citra and Simcoe showcase — simple concept, exceptional execution. The whole cone difference is real and identifiable in the glass. A Bay Area seasonal worth waiting for every year.

— Stephen · Contributing Factor Brewing · 12 Jan 2025