Beachwood Amalgamator 4Pk is a West Coast-style IPA from Beachwood Brewing in California, sold in a four-pack at 7.1% ABV. Built around a massive Mosaic dry hop charge layered over a multi-hop kettle addition, it earned an 87-point score from BJCP judges in a Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine blind tasting and holds a solid 4.0 out of 5 rating across more than 25,000 reviews on Untappd.Quick Facts: ABV: 7.1% | Origin: California, United States | Style: West Coast IPA | Brewery: Beachwood BrewingProduction & HeritageBeachwood Brewing operates out of Long Beach, California, and has built a reputation for hop-forward beers that honor West Coast brewing traditions. The Amalgamator starts with a grain bill of American 2-row and Honey Malt, then receives kettle additions of Amarillo, Warrior, Columbus, and Mosaic hops before a heavy dry hop charge of Mosaic defines its aromatic profile. That layered hopping approach—combining bittering backbone from Warrior and Columbus with the tropical and citrus character of Mosaic and Amarillo—gives the beer both structural bitterness and aromatic complexity that sets it apart from single-hop IPAs.Tasting NotesAroma: Orange marmalade and ripe citrus lead, followed by resinous pine and a wave of tropical fruit. Mosaic's signature blueberry and passion fruit notes emerge as the beer warms slightly in the glass.Taste: The entry is bright with white grapefruit and kumquat, moving quickly into pineapple and touches of peach at mid-palate. The Honey Malt provides just enough sweetness to balance the hop bitterness without masking it, while the mouthfeel is notably silky and glides across the palate with ease.Finish: Bitter and piney, anchored by enough lingering citrus to keep it from drying out completely. The finish is moderately long, with resinous hop character that invites the next sip.How to Drink AmalgamatorPour it into a tulip glass or standard pint at around 45°F to let the Mosaic aromatics open up fully; drinking it straight from the can mutes the tropical nose that defines this beer. It works well in a Hop Shandy—mixed with fresh lemonade to amplify the citrus character. Try it in a Michelada, where its piney bitterness stands up to hot sauce and lime better than lighter lagers. A Beermosa with fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice plays directly into the beer's existing citrus profile.Best For Introducing a craft beer drinker to serious West Coast IPAs Backyard grilling sessions where bold hops match charred meats Building a California craft beer tasting flight alongside other hop-forward styles Gifting to an IPA enthusiast who values Mosaic-driven beers Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat does Amalgamator taste like? It delivers bright citrus—grapefruit, kumquat, and orange marmalade—layered with tropical pineapple and passion fruit, finishing bitter and piney with a silky mouthfeel.How does Amalgamator compare to Pizza Port Swami's IPA? Swami's IPA is often cited as a gold standard West Coast IPA benchmark, leaning heavily into classic pine and citrus with a drier profile. Amalgamator shares that resinous backbone but pushes further into tropical territory thanks to its heavy Mosaic dry hop charge, giving it a more fruit-forward aromatic presence.Is Amalgamator good for sipping on its own? Absolutely—its 7.1% ABV is sessionable enough for a couple of pours, and the silky mouthfeel and layered hop complexity reward slow, attentive drinking from a proper glass.Where is Amalgamator made? Amalgamator is brewed by Beachwood Brewing in Long Beach, California, a brewery known for its hop-centric West Coast ales.What foods pair well with Amalgamator? Spicy fish tacos match its citrus brightness and cut through the heat. Grilled chicken with a mango salsa echoes its tropical notes. A sharp aged cheddar contrasts the hop bitterness with rich, salty fat. Thai green curry works well, as the pine and citrus hops refresh the palate between bites. A classic cheeseburger with pepper jack stands up to the beer's assertive bitterness.What sizes does Amalgamator come in? The standard retail format is a four-pack of cans.Is Amalgamator worth the price? It positions as a craft IPA in a competitive California market, and the 87-point Craft Beer & Brewing score plus consistently strong community ratings suggest it delivers above-average quality for its price tier among West Coast IPAs.Why Amalgamator?The defining move here is the Mosaic-heavy dry hop charge layered on top of a four-hop kettle bill—a technique that gives Amalgamator both old-school West Coast bitterness and the tropical aromatics that modern IPA drinkers expect. An 87-point score from BJCP-certified judges in blind tasting confirms it performs well beyond casual fan ratings. The Honey Malt addition is a subtle but important choice, rounding out what could be an aggressively bitter beer into something with genuine drinkability and a silky texture uncommon at 7.1% ABV. In a crowded West Coast IPA field, Amalgamator earns its reputation by balancing tradition with a contemporary hop profile that rewards both the first sip and the last.
