The Original 40 harnesses HopXL

North Park’s The Original 40 Brewing has released a West Coast IPA named Three and a Half, which is available on draft and in four-packs of 16-ounce cans. Three & A Half is 7% alcohol-by-volume and, in addition to prominently features Citra hops, it marks the first time Head Brewer Zack Kaplan has used HopXL, a pure hop water-soluble extract that provides depth and intensity to the hops’ flavor and aroma.

The Original 40’s latest beer offers notes of tangerine, pineapple and lychee, along with hints of citrus zest and pine resin. It has a medium body and a dry finish, and pours a brilliant golden hue crowned by a frothy head.

The name Three and a Half comically references users of beer-rating app, Untappd, who make comments lauding beers as the best they’ve ever had, then give them a rating of 3.5 stars on a scale of five.

“Continuing our R&D and innovation is always an exciting proposition,” Kaplan said. “There is no better style of beer than West Coast IPA to try something new. With the addition of HopXL, Three and a Half really showcases the incredible versatility and depth of Citra hops.”

Kaplan is a six-time Great American Beer Festival (GABF) winner, garnering medals most recently in 2019 while serving as the head brewer at Migration Brewing in Portland, Oregon. The La Jolla native has won two gold medals, one silver medal and three bronze medals at the Great American Beer Festival, which is often referred to as “The Oscars” of the craft-beer industry.

Original 40 is opens at noon, Monday through Friday, and 11:30 a.m., Saturdays and Sundays.