Russian River IPA

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

Growler shared by JoeMcPhee via golubj. Completely clear light orange color and a medium strong head and a sticky lacing. Aroma is citrus and pine hops and very bitter grapefruit. Taste is much more relaxed with light sweet hops and faint grapefruit skins. Absolutely no bitterness in the flavor, nice stuff.

Growler shared by JoeMcPhee - clear gold/orange beer, with a soapy, lasting head - huge west coast hop aroma, with loads of citrus and mango - lots of earthy, woody hop flavor - nice and dry, with just enough of a malt base to keep it from being too much so - a tiny bit of tropical fruit sweetness underneath - very grassy and peppery throughout - a nice IPA.

Growler generously sent by golubj. Clear golden-orange beer with a thick sticky white head. The aroma is just great. Loaded with bright pine and grapefruity citrus. Very lean malts, zesty and crisp with lots of tangerine, orange and grapefruit. Flavour is well-balanced with crisp minerally malts, very lean and dry just backing up the bright citric hops. Tastes like California. Great stuff.

Pours clearish orange/amber color with a thin, crisp white head, specks of lace. Smells nice, mellow grassy hoppy. Tastes much hoppier than I remember. Nice grassy, hoppy bitter up front with a hint of malt toward the finish, lingering bitterness. Medium body, good carbonation.

Strong, multi layer hop flavor. Malt plays an excellent supporting role to all the hop goodness. Perfect choice of hops. An amazing beer, would easily be the flagship product at 99% of other breweries

On tap at Russian River’s 4th anniversary. Pours gold with an off-white one-finger head that leaves lots of lacing. Aroma is bursting with hops, but not in a one-dimensional way. Lots of tropical fruit along with a nice pininess. Flavor is more pine-forward, with support from grapefruit, lemon, and a modest maltiness. Finish is long and almost tannic in its dry bitterness. Palate is standard RR goodness. Another excellent IPA from these guys.

On tap at the pub. Pours a nice orange color with decent head. Nose is very soft on the hops with tropical fruits coming though. The flavor is subdued as well...with light floral hops, soft citrus and touches of malts. Well balanced.

The server told me this was the lightest of all the RR IPAs, and it is still strong. I love that in their beers! Very spicy hop profile, slightly sweeter than Blind Pig or Pliny. Ends on a classic bitter note. Slightly dank and leafy flavor.