Blue Ridge (SC) Ball n Chain IPA

Brewed by Blue Ridge Brewing Co. (SC)
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Greenville, South Carolina USA

Pours a clear copper color with an aggressive head of light beige. Laces well. Aromas of some dank greenery, orangey citrus, and a touch of pine. A wonderful smeller. Caramel and crystal malts hold up the bushels of hops quite well. Subtle bitterness even with all the hop character. Firm body, and an aftertaste that is to die for. I enjoyed this quite a bit.

on tap @HopfestNC-pours a retaining light tan head that laces and cloudy gold color. Aroma is citrus hops-cascade and others. Taste is citrus hops-cascade and others, secondary medium malt-caramel. OK carbonation.

Sampled at the pub. Pours an orange-copper color with a thin off-white head. Probably not massive in your face aggressive hops but this was nicely hopped, as were all of Blue Ridge’s beers. The hops obviously were the main player and they were mostly grapefruit flavor. A long-lasting bitter, dry finish. Good beer. This and their Pale Ale were my two favorites.

Not a bad IPA. Pours out a golden color with a nice head. Aroma is grassy with notes of citrus and hops. Flavor very much the same, but the finish was very thin. I liked this one though. it was a nice IPA

Date: 09/22/2006
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub

Appearance: hazy amber, thin fine beige head, lots of lace,
Aroma: light sweet carmel malt aroma with light citrus hops,
Body: very creamy body,
Flavor: lots of nice hop flavor blending into a long mellow bitter finish, just enough carmel sweetness to add some balance and complexity, very nice, the bitterness grows a bit to the point of distraction in the full pint
-------- /> Date: 03/30/2007
Mode: draft
Source: brewpub
Score: 3.3 to 3.4

same as before except instead of the bitterness growing the sweet fruity citrus character grows,
-------- /> Date: 04/13/2008
Mode: draft
Source: brewpub

Aroma: touch of fresh sourdough bread in the aroma,
Flavor: crystal malt flavor has a touch of the fruity sweetness but is well balanced by the citrus and earthy hops, hop flavor and bitterness stay in balance throughout the pint allowing the fruityness to grow, nice lasting bitter finish,
-------- /> Date: 05/17/2008
Mode: draft
Source: brewpub

more of the citrus and fruity character coming out, lighter on the bitterness to allow the malt and hops to come forward,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.4/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **+/4

Pours a clear gold color with a thick white head. Smells of spicy hops, some grapefruit citrus, and mild malts. The flavor has some of that grapefruit citrus from the hops, which made for a slightly bitter finish and lingering aftertaste. Pretty crisp on the palate, with a clean finish. Not a bad little IPA. Very drinkable and refreshing.

Thanks to Josh for sharing this growler. Pours a translucent golden amber with a bubbly off white head that left some lacing. Aroma of caramel malt, earthy and piney hops, toffee, Flavor of pine, grapefruit, some carmal and earthiness. On the thin side for sure.

Pint at the brewpub. Pours super cloudy with thick lacing and a tall white head. It’s a really nice looking IPA and raises my expectations a bit. Unfortunately, the hop aroma is fairly weak. Some grapefruit and woody bitterness arises along with hints at apples. The flavor is humbly bitter, solid, but not in my face. Everything does meld together cleanly and nicely, but I’d like to see more hop individuality. This seems like a British/American hybrid. It’s drinkable for sure.