Russian River Blind Pig IPA

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

OK, after 30 or so pints @ the brewpub I think I can rate this. Clear amber orange with a one finger white head, slowly fading to a thick film and sheet of lace on the glass. Aroma has loads of grapefruit pulp and rind, along with some bitter pine needles and clean caramel in the backend. The flavor is much the same with added pine needles, and a fair amount drier and more bitter than the RR IPA. As far as I know they don’t vary the hops, but this particular batch is incredibly fruity and amazing. Other batches are a bit more dank and "weed"-like. Bitterness peaks around a 6 in the dry finish. Typical of the West Coast to deprive your senses of malt character, but the purpose of IPA?s was not for the malt. Burps pine needles. Light to moderate prickly carbonation with a medium body. I must bump my rating up a bit, as this batch (4/04/09 rerate) is phenomenal. Wonderfully crafted West Coast IPA.

500ml bottle. Pours a clear golden color with a nice white head. Nose is predominantly of pine with some floral and citrus notes. Taste is similar with pine hop presence in the taste with hint of citrus and malt. Mouthfeel is medium with a good bittern finish that lasts for awhile. Very good IPA!

Pour is golden with nice frothy white head. Aromas of citrus with some pine. Flavor is well balanced and smooth with citrus, pine, and sweet malt. Very drinkable.

Tap @ RR. Clear golden color, short head. Sharp piney hops, some fruit as well in aroma. Good malty body. Nice bitter palate. Great stuff.

500 ml bottle. Blind Pig pours a clear golden color that resembles urine when you drink too much pop (I need to drink more water). The aroma is a clean hoppy nose with citrus, pin, and some floral qualities. There is a slight hint of the malt. The hops dominate the flavor as well. Pine with a pinch of citrus is only slightly bolstered by the 98 pound weakling that is the malt backbone. The bitterness maintains its presence long into the finish. There is something respectable about an IPA that doesn’t necessarily try for complete balance. Medium bodied solid IPA.

Draught. Poured Golden citrusy gold. Floral hoppy aroma with notes of naartjies, pine and lemon. Full body with malt to keep it from being too hoppy, hoppy skin and muscle. Full lingering hop finish.

Pure pine tree aroma, a touch of citrus, taste is spicey hops, pine hops big on hop bitterness,bitterness lingers on in a heavenly fashion,maybe a touch thin,excellent bitter IPA,Thanks Kingpin

Big thank you to dirty_martini for sending me a super fresh bottle. 16.9 oz. bottle dated 09/05/08. Pours a hazy, brownish gold with a moderate linen white head that faded to a film by mid-glass and laced the glass all the way to the end. The aroma is quite strong and reminds me more of an arborvitae than pine. Some grapefruit notes also present in the nose. The flavor is malt up front followed by a wash of strong pine and grapefruit. As the beer warms a bit, the grapefruit outshines the pine. Prickly, bitter finish. Thanks again, Larry!