Russian River IPA

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

On draft at O’Brien’s. Appearance is a clear yellow-light orange hue, very thin cluster of bubbles, moderate lacing. Smell is moderate hops, pine resin and orange/grapefruit, subtle malts and alcohol. Taste is big pine hops followed by sour grapefruit, grassy malts lurk in and the finish is bitter with slight alcohol warming. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied, oily and slick texture, moderate carbonation. Big hop presence dominates here but is held in check by the malts, alcohol presence is moderate, this is definitely less bold and complex than RR’s other IPAs, but this is a solid example of the style.

On tap at Beachwood BBQ in Seal BEach, Calif. This would be a good IPA to start off with, but it was rather out matched with things I tasted prior. It’s a decent straight up IPA, but does not seem to be in the same league is it’s siblings, Blind Pig nor Pliny.

draft @ brewery - with blind pig and pliny on the menu, this one was way over matched; light amber, thin bodied; drinks bitter and dry; texture on the light side, but still retains that RR feel; a more run of the mill IPA though

On tap @ RR. Orange-copper color with a thick tight white head. Robust hop aroma, very floral, light citrus notes. Taste reflects the aroma - more rounded off hop character, lingers on the palate well. A nice IPA, and quite different from Blind Pig.

On tap at Port Brewing in Carlsbad. Pours deep gold with a smooth white head. Pine and grapefruit in the hop aroma, very floral. Palate starts with a soft caramel and bready note, but quickly builds into a floral juicy hop finish. Very solid IPA.

On tap. Pours with a large, and long lasting white head covering a clear yellow body. Great lacing. ARoma of orange and lots of C-Hops. Taste is bitter and a bit malty. Bitterness presents itself as lemon and orange. Creamy mouthfeel with light carbonation.

Yellow/amber slightly cloudy pour with diminished head. Fruity nose and flavor with a bitter end.

~Pours a light golden copper colorwith sticky looking white head. ~Grapefruit hop scent with sweet malts. ~Citrusy flavor with sweet malts. Big bitterness at end. ~Sticky medium feel with big bitter finish that quickly ends. ~Nice IPA. Seems to be lacking a bit on hoppy flavor.