Blue Frog Last Hop Standing

Brewed by Blue Frog Grog and Grill
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Fairfield, California USA

Tasted on tap at the 2007 Bistro Wet Hop IPA Festival. This IPA pours a light gold color. Small sized white foamy head. Aroma begins with strong floral hops and then gives way to some yeast and esters, very fruity. A medium bodied IPA. Malts are fruity and sweet. Hops are floral and citrusy. Interesting beer. A hoppy Belgian blonde or a fruity IPA? Take your pick. Fruity with a bone dry finish. Nice balance, but a touch sweet. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is clean and crisp and fairly dry. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

On Tap @ The Wet Hop Event at the Hayward Bistro. It pours a hazy deep gold with a copper hue running through the middle and thin bright white head. The aroma is mild with hints of sweet malts and vague hoppiness but also with pretty big Belgian yeast notes of banana and bubble gum. The hops show up first in the flavor but are quickly outshined by banana and mild bubble gum notes. Midway the Centennial hops break free of the Belgian influence and bath the flavor in subtle hoppiness. Interesting offering.

Draft at The Bistro Wet Hop Fest. Cloudy copper appearance with a white head. Very phenolic aroma with some surprising banana notes. Slightly vegetal and very dry.

On draft at O’Briens Wet Hop Festival, the classification as a pale lager surprises me based on the flavor profile, though I could understand it being made in a lager style I suppose. Slightly hazed medium amber color with a small creay beige head that leaves nice lacing. Great crisp hop aroma, citrus heavy with sweet toasty malts, hints of caramel and grapefruit juice in the finish. Mellow, sweet toffee malts, earty, herby hops, with bright citrus flavors as well leading to an astringent finish. Medium body, gentle carbonation. Again, this seems to fit the profile of a hoppy APA or IPA rather than pale lager, but what the hey!

Tap, O’Brien’s Wet Hop Fest. Pours a golden brown color. Very skunky hoppiness. Very bitter piney hops going on. Overall, quite bitter and good. If this is a pale lager I expect it to be #1 when it gets the ratings.

Draft. I was told this was a fresh hop lager using wet Willamette hops. Amber beer with an off white head. Slightly smoky aroma with some grain. Slight citrus/grass/lager flavor with light malt. Fresh hops. Lingering mineral/citrus tones.