WakeandBake (422), Greenville, Michigan, USA May 1, 2009 Updated: Jun 8, 2009 Rating # 300 , 500ml Bottle thanks to CaryTheDude. A dull golden color body with a big soapy white head,light to medium carbonation and tuns of stricky lace. Aroma is hoppy, piny,floral and citrus rind,Very nice. Flavor is bitter with some pine up front, a very tasty caramel malt backbone,more citrus hops,a bit of resin,hints of peppercorn,orange peel,just plain juice and balanced,very very good, a nice bitter finish with a hoppy aftertaste, medium body without being sticky feeling at all. A very drinkable top shelf IPA for sure. donfardz64 (406), Wellington, New Zealand May 1, 2009 500mL bottle from Beerstore.co.nz, bottled in December ’08. Poured off the yeast, it is a hazy golden amber colour, with a frothy off white head.
Aroma, wow. I haven’t smelt hops like this before in NZ. A lot of pine needle, which is new to me. An orange peel citrus underlies the strong piny aroma. The malt brings a little caramel to the aroma.
Unsurprisingly; the flavour is dominated by piny, pleasantly bitter, resiny hops. Wow, now I know what ‘resiny’ means. Hop flavour coats my mouth, leaving a long lasting pleasant bitterness which screams “DRINK ME MORE!” I left this out to warm for 1.5 hours, yet I still can’t really detect any malt flavour through the huge hops, perhaps the Pliny the Elder will improve on this aspect, otherwise I can’t really fault this beer.
This being my very first American craft beer tasted, I have big expectations for the rest! snuffla (95), Chch, New Zealand Apr 26, 2009 Amber golden drop. White head. Aromas of pine, passionfruit, citrus. Taste; resiny itterness, more citrus, hints of caramel from the malt. RIch and smooth in the mouth, long lasting bitterness. Clean and very well crafted beer. mabel (2530), Toronto, Ontario, Canada Apr 25, 2009 [2022-20090227] 1pt0.9floz bottle. Sweaty pine needles and lots of toasted orange rind hops aroma. Hazy, medium orange body with a medium-lasting creamy off-white head. Great orange rind hops and mild grapefruit flavour with lots of bitter citrus seeds. Medium body is very bitter. Very well-balanced, very tasty, this bitterness could hide even more percentage.
(w/ jerc) SorenE (110), , New Zealand Apr 25, 2009 hazy golden amber with a fluffy lingering white head. lemons, lime, grapefruit, passionfruit maybe a bit of peach on the piney resiny nose. flavour is fresh and zingy with a firm malty backbone, kinda high bitterness I suppose but I’m loving it! Hopeye (39), Oregon, USA Apr 24, 2009 This beer is a hop party in my mouth! I was accustomed to RR’s big imperials, so I expected a much tamer hop taste to their regular old IPA. What I got was a brew with all the hop flavor and without the malty intensity of an IIPA. I’d love to taste this next to a DFH 60. It would be a brutal competition. Where is my dream pub with both on tap? greig (169), Hamilton, New Zealand Apr 22, 2009 Having this after Pliny the Elder may have been a bad idea. It’s a delicious beer though. All grapefruit and wine biscuits. This beer is one of those "oh crap, I’ve finished mine already" beers. Far more drinkable/sessionable than PtE, and another great beer from Russian River. Clave567 (1), USA does not count Apr 21, 2009 Well balanced with a nice malt backbone. Nice slightly opake amber color. Very nice and upfront Hoppy character.Nice dry finish with a solid hop mouthfeel. This is one Awesome beer.
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