Redhook Long Hammer IPA

Brewed by Redhook Brewery
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Woodinville, Washington USA

On draft at Player’s Sports Bar in Clairemont. Appearance is clear orange hue, thin white layer of foam, fair lacing. Smell is mostly pale bread malts over very light pine hops, clean and crisp but non-descript. Taste is subtle malts balanced by bittering hops, grains and yeast in the middle, finishes clean. Mouthfeel is light/medium-bodied, watery texture, light carbonation. Drinkability is fair, this feels more like a lightly hopped pale ale than an IPA, some decent balance and easy-drinking, but nothing too exciting going on here.

I have had many of these over the years and it fails to dissapoint. Nice sweet caramel malt backbone with a light toast component. Hops are moderate with pine and grapefruit and even a bit of spicy resin. Well put together.

I had this beer on tap and in the bottle. I must stay that the tap version was FAR better and that is what I am reviewing here. Hop aroma was excellent; a nice combination of American "C" hops. Hop flavor was good. Not really bitter enough for an IPA, but that was made up for with aroma hops and some dryness to the mouthfeel. There was a hint of light to medium caramel, but the sweetness wasn’t strong. I definitely recommend this on tap. I drank this at "Little Angies" in Duluth, MN (Canal Park). If I could rate this beer twice, I would rate the bottled version quite a bit less [I found it in the same area in bottle and am drinking one now, but it is nowhere near what the tap version is.

Pours a light orange color with a thin white head. Unusually large bubbles in the carbonation. Obvious cascade hops aroma and flavor, possibly something with a higher acidity lies beneath in the modest bitterness. No real malt charecter for me to speak of. Not hoppy enough for me to seriously classify as an IPA more like a typical NW American ale complete with cascade domination. I do love the cascade hops though and so I would say this is a decent beer. Good for sessioning or mass appeal at a party or something. I would drink again but not worth savoring. Not impressive not offensive kinda average.

This is an underrated brew, it’s decently made, understandably not the pinnacle of IPA production, but overall pretty drinkable stuff. Aromas are singularly pine, citrusy, woodsy, some subtle caramelly malts, looks a golden dark amber, a little hazy, pours a big 3 finger soapy head that settles to lacing; flavors are sharp citrus, bittering asparin and some sweetened malts; mouthfeel is a little watered down, but doesn’t detract from the overall experience. Overall good experience, and wouldn’t refuse at a get together or bar.

Beautiful clear amber pour, with a moderate white rootbeer head that stayed firm for a 20 count before falling like a souffle. Crisp, piney aroma and flavor, though not much lingers on the back of the tongue - I actually felt like I tasted it more with the roof of my mouth. Light texture - some foam stays up on the glass walls, but no visible legs. I want to try my next one with a hamburger.

12oz bottle from a sampler case. Piney, citrusy nose, as it should be. Poured a bit lighter in color than I thought it would/should, but I find that common with Redhook beers. A very pleasant, drinkable IPA.

Light amber beer with a small off-white head. Aroma is sweet grapefruit. Flavor is grapefruit and slight malty sweetness. Finish is fading bitterness. Very pleasant IPA (and that’s a compliment).