Russian River Blind Pig IPA

Brewed by Russian River Brewing
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Santa Rosa, California USA

bottle from South Bay Drugs. This is one of the best IPA I’ve had to date - simply outstanding. It almost drinks like a IIPA. There are massive piney hops that seep out of the bottle and glass. Pours a crisp golden with a nice 1/2’ white head. It looks and smells like pure hop juice. There are also some citrus notes across the palate with grapefruit coming forward the most. The pine and somewhat resin coated hops are predominant. Nice full body with incredibly fresh hops coating the mouth. Huge bitter finish that sticks with you for a while. Russian River knows hops and makes some damn good beer.

Bottle and served in my GI IPA Tulip: Clean golden hue topped by a foamy white head which left very nice lace upon the glassware. The aroma smacks of resiny, leafy and citric hops with a hint of caramel and bready malt balance, A tad minerally as well around the edges. The flavor profile lets the hops shine without kicking in your teeth, surprisingly smooth and very drinkable. Lots of twangy snappy citric notes about the palate with a astringent metallic finish. The mouth feel is sprite and refreshing, dry chalky finish. A very solid entry into the genre and if available in my area this would a beer I would drink regularly.

On tap at the brewery. Bushy grassy bits of light caramels. Very straight up but with textural (heavy) differences from IPA standards that set thsi apart. The hoppy qualities are very palatable and appreciable without the fuil force West Coast hop bill.

500 ml bottle. Pours a beautiful hazy orange body with a one inch frothy beige head that left tons of patchy intricate lacing. Great citrusy bright hops with a nice subtle malt and a little fruitiness. The flavor is really well balanced between the hoppiness and the bitterness. It’s like biting into a grapefruit. Softly malted with just a little bit of an earthy yeasty finish. Beautiful IPA. Mouthfeel is soft and creamy with perfect soft carbonation. Lingering bitterness. This is just beautiful. Among the very best in the style.

In the biggest surprise of the year, I finally able to score some RR Blind Pig and Pliney the Elder off Liquid Solutions! Light caramel-orange color with a light off white head. BIG pine aroma followed up with citrus hops and a touch of tropical fruit. The flavor is immediately fruity. Tons of tropical citrus fruits are right there to greet you and continue all the way through. Along the way, plenty of pine pokes its head up to say hello. And finally an earthy finish rounds it all out. This is definitely an exploration of hops. Not real malt to speak of other than the fact that there is enough to allow the hops to shine with out being abrasive. Semi-dry, light-medium body. YUM!

Bright clear gold with a large loose white head. Pine, citrus mango and a hint of bar soap in the aroma. Very hoppy in flavor and a bit on the sweet side. A little thin in body and a little undercarbonated. Has some honey malt flavor underlying the strong pine and citrus. Quite bitter also.

Draught at Falling Rock Taphouse - served in a plactic cup. Clear yellow/golden - white head. High high hoppy, very lovely, peach, grape, grass, wet grass, resin, high bitterness, light malty, light sweetness. Very nice.

This beer is just outstanding! I don’t think that I gave any beer a perfect score but this one deserves it!