Podcast Episode 372: Ian McCall of Ism is Brewing Pint After Pint of West Coast Pleasure

From Beachwood to Riip and now under his own brand, Ism, Ian McCall has honed his West Coast IPA craft and racked up a bunch of medals along the way. The secret? He’s not afraid of bitterness, as long as it’s properly shaped and timed.

Jamie Bogner Aug 9, 2024 - 6 min read

Podcast Episode 372: Ian McCall of Ism is Brewing Pint After Pint of West Coast Pleasure Primary Image

Photo: Courtesy Ian McCall

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With his new brewery, Ism, Ian McCall is back in the brewery and taproom that once housed Beachwood in Long Beach, California—a brewery where he was once lead brewer—although he’s in a different position now as founder and owner. Despite the brewery’s relative infancy, McCall and team have already made a big splash, landing three World Beer Cup medals earlier this year—including two golds, and one of those in the competitive West Coast IPA category.

The conversation, of course, turns to West Coast IPA... and it stays there, as McCall walks us through his award-winning Western Standard Time IPA. Along the way, he covers:

  • optimizing the beer lineup to eliminate lower performers
  • driving leaner malt in West Coast IPA
  • using group hop selection to his advantage
  • brewing with wheat to boost body without affecting dryness
  • moderating chloride levels in West Coast IPA
  • shaping bitterness to hit strongly and quickly, then disappear
  • using active-fermentation dry hopping to push fruitier hop notes
  • building complexity with hot-side hop additions
  • constantly refining even award-winning recipes

And more.

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Jamie Bogner is the cofounder and editorial director of Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine®. Email him at [email protected].

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