WHEN SURF MEETS SNOW – OUR GAPER SHARK IPA COLLABORATION WITH HUMBLE SEA

What do you get when you mix some kooks from the coast with some snow-loving mountain dwellers? A Gaper Shark of course! Our latest collaboration with Humble Sea Brewing Co. is the perfect blend of surf and snow culture.

With plans for a collaborative brew with Humble Sea Brewing Co. prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, this endeavor was put on hold for a while. But a trip to the mountains for Humble Sea’s Co-Founder and Head of Brewing Operations, Nick Pavlina, put the collaboration back in motion.

“They are fun-loving guys from the coast,” SLBC Co-Founder and Head of Brewing Operations, Chris Smith, said. “We do similar stuff up in the mountains. We have the same type of vibe and all try to make the best beer possible.”

Humble Sea is known for its "Foggy IPAs," their coastal term for a Hazy IPA. Hazy beers are nothing new to SLBC, but with the crew also liking beers that are clear and refreshing, a West Coast IPA was ultimately decided on as the collaboration brew between the two breweries.

Gaper Shark Double Dry Hopped West Coast IPA

Gaper Shark IPA was double dry-hopped to maximize the flavor and aroma of the beer. A blend of hops including two new hops never-before brewed by SLBC make this beer unique.

El Dorado hops can be found in a number of SLBC beers and offer tropical flavors with a hint of dankness. Humble Sea contributed Riwaka hops from New Zealand and Strata hops were also used resulting in a 6.7% ABV beer with tons of hop flavor. The addition of 2-row barley and flaked rice allowed the beer to ferment completely for a clean malt bill that lets the hops shine.

SLBC Co-Founder and Head of Brewing Operations, Chris Smith, samples the hops.

As for the name, Gaper Shark is a reflection of two similar cultures coming together. The Humble Sea crew call themselves kooks, and skiers and snowboarders know that the mountain version of a kook is a gaper traditionally seen sporting a gap between their goggles and helmet. The shark is a nod to Humble Sea’s location in Santa Cruz next to the Pacific Ocean.

“We keep the names lighthearted. We have fun with that and don’t take ourselves too seriously,” Smith said. “It was the perfect time to blend the surf and snow culture.”

You can grab this tasty beer on tap in our tasting room, pick up a 4-pack to-go, or order it online to be shipped to your home in California and other select states.