Firestone Walker Brewing calls its Hopnosis IPA a “cold IPA” though it wasn’t immediately clear to me whether the brewery was playing on its use of Cryo Hops, or if more was involved. As it happens, there is more to it than deriving “cold” from “cryo” and FW details it in a blog post:

While IPAs are typically fermented with ale yeasts, cold IPAs like Hopnosis are fermented with lager yeasts. Remember that IPA stands for India Pale Ale, so fermenting an IPA with lager yeasts signifies a break with tradition.

“When you use a lager yeast to ferment an IPA, you get a cleaner and less ester-driven aroma profile,” said Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “The colder fermentation also creates a lighter backbone that helps accentuate the bright, tropical hops we’re using. So while Hopnosis offers a lot of things you love in a straight-ahead West Coast IPA, the lager yeast is what pushes it toward the Cold IPA style.”

This differs a bit in the approach to cold IPA than you’ll find in Wayfinder Beer’s process, which involves a large portion of adjuncts in the grain bill, no caramel malts, and lager yeast fermented warm. Dry hopping during active fermentation is also critical.

With Hopnosis, there are no adjuncts and no mention of dry hopping despite the mention of Cryo Hops. Does that mean it falls more into the India pale lager (IPL) category? Does it matter? With 6.7% ABV with 45 IBUs I found it to be nicely hoppy, solid, and drinkable.

Appearance: Great clarity, bright and shiny light copper color; crisp white head.

Smell: Pungent aroma that I could smell as I poured, with papaya and dank resin. Bright tropical golden fruit and herbal character along with mellow cannabis.

Taste: Bitter and resinous, with some allium and cannabis for a savory character with a solid toastiness. There’s some pithy notes with fruit skins and a big green lupulin note; grassy, herbal. Solid.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, nice structure, clean with a bitter finish.

Overall: Tasty, herbal, dank, super solid.