Russian River Bravo

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

Draft at the brewpub (6.74%). Aroma was very unusual - brett and angostura bitter came to mind. Dark golden color with a white head that ringed and left delicate lace tatters. Thin to medium body with mild carbonation. Lightly sweet herb flavor with complimentary bitter. Three of us tried it, and no one could put a finger on a name for the principal flavor. Let’s say floral/herby hop. Nice lingering bitter finish. Good stuff, if puzzling.

From a growler thanks to general_gao. Gold colored body with a creamy white head. The aroma has a sweet note of oranges along with some grass and leather. There is also a toffee undertone. The taste has some grapefruit rind along with some Juicy Fruit gum. There was also a little bit of pine. Nicely done and relatively subtle.

Tasted on tap at the 2nd Annual Drakes IPA Festival. This IPA pours a slightly hazy light gold color. Small sized white foamy head. Aroma is floral and yeasty. Medium bodied India Pale Ale. The malts are fruity and sweet. The hops are floral and earthy. This one has a lot of yeasty and fruit esters in it. Very smooth tasting. Milder bitterness. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is clean and smooth.

Draft at the brewpub. Also had it a second time out of a growler. Poured a clear golden-light orange color. Head was rocky and white with good retention and lacing. Aroma was of flowery hops and subdued clove. There was also some fruity candy. Dry on the tongue with a light spicy clove note and mild to moderate hop bitterness. Flowery/grapefruity hops and subdued fleshy fruit (mostly apple) dominated the flavor. Good beer.

Draft. Amber beer with a low off-white head. Low spicy yeast, citrus aroma. Musty, citrus flavor with some yeastiness. Medium body. Lingering pithiness. Didn’t care much for. Made with 100% Bravo hops and I think it clashed with the yeast.

On tap at the Russian River Brewery. The beer pours gold with thin off white head. It has a mild aroma of faint spice, tartness and faint sweetness. The mild spiciness must be the Bravo hops. The taste starts mildly sweet with some tartness and a big punch of Bravo hop spice with the addition of floral and some pine hops. I can’t pin down the dominant Bravo hop character. It seems to be spice, mildly floral and pine. Interesting. I look forward to trying more of this variety. It is a tasty hop heavy Belgian style yeast ale.

Growler from the pub! Nose of citrus hops and bready malt, nothing like Elder or Younger or Blind Pig etc.; different from RR; beautiful clear golden hue with a small yellow tinged head; flavor has some hop bitternesswith some little bretty, spicy twists to the maltiness. Unusual, nontypical IPA! But tasty!

ON tap at Russian River. Clear golden with a fizzy white head. Malty citrus aroma. Caramel malty taste with a bitter bite to the finish and lemon notes.