Russian River Defenestration

This "Belgian IPA" is very tasty and slightly unusual beer. It has definite, hoppy IPA traits with light Belgian hcaracter and hitns of a strong, hoppy maibock. It’s amber with a small-medium, off-white head that shrinks veryslowly to a thin, lasting top. It has pretty good lace. The aroma is muted and weak, mostly musty grapes with a bit of citrus. The taste is excellent, nice and bready with hints of toasted cracker, grapes, hints of raisin and buttery caramel, a hint of herbs and pine, plus citrus, mostly lemon and grapefruit. It starts sweetish then gradually morphs to a slightly bitter, mostly citrusy, finish. It holds up well.

Nose of strong orange, slight grapefruit and esters, notablely pears. Light body, light orange color. Really strong grapefruit flavor, orange, toast, and apples. Dry finish, lingeringly bitter. This really seems like one of their IPA passed off as a Belgian, maybe with a Abbey yeast strain.

Bright rich orange hue, good clarity, off-white head sustains, fair lacing. Aroma is sweet bubblegum and yeast, mild citrus and pine resin, slight bread. Taste is moderate hop bitterness, moderate hop flavor of resin and grapefruit, some grass and chalk, moderate grainy malts, sweet Belgian sugar, finishes dry. Medium full-bodied, smooth texture, moderate-high carbonation. An easy-drinking and flavorful Belgian with significant hop flavor and bitterness.

That’s what I’m talking about! One of the best "Belgian IPAs" out there. Perfect blend of the two styles. On tap at Russian River. Golden color with a tiny bit of haze, white head. Aroma is yeast, light fruits, banana, earth, and piney hops. Yeasty with banana, candi sugar, caramel malt, and a healthy dose of hops. Medium-bodied. Hell yeah.

(10/28/08) Draught sample at the brewpub in Santa Rosa. Clear golden color. Aroma of fruits, hops, some earthy notes, yeast and soap notes. Sweetish flavor with some malt, bread, caramel, fruits and a bitter hoppy finish with some spicy notes. Medium-bodied.

Smells like smarties, skittles, and sweet tarts, golden lightly cloudy body, perfect balance of bright and candy-like hop oils and malty / belgian yeast flavors, candy like all of the way around, chews like taffy, strawberries

On tap at Toronado SF. This copper ale poured with a thin off-white head and a barnyard aroma. There is a musty caramel malt flavor complemented by masterful hopping that produces a sharp bitterness at the finish. This brew becomes more interesting as the glass empties.

clear golden with a white head. Sweet fruity and Belgian yeast aroma and taste with citrus notes