Some beer names are a mission statement, and Complicated Simplicity from Original Pattern Brewing Co. wears its philosophy right on the can. This IPA comes in at 6.6% ABV, built with Strata, Idaho 7, and Citra hops, and it spends its whole life trying to prove that simple and complex aren't actually opposites.
Bold tropical fruit notes of tangerine, strawberry, and pineapple hit up front, bright and juicy, before a dank, earthy finish pulls things back down to something more grounded. The brewery calls it simple in approach but full of complex flavors, proof that sometimes less really is more, and it's hard to argue with a beer that manages both ends of that spectrum in one glass.
Oakland's Original Pattern has made a habit of turning out IPAs that lean into contradiction like this, easygoing on the surface with more going on underneath than the label lets on. This one's no exception, and it earns its name rather than just wearing it.
Part of a six-beer release this week from the Oakland taproom, available for pickup and shipping Friday at noon, with delivery across the state of California for anyone not close enough to swing by in person.
Complicated or simple, either way, it's a pretty easy call to make.