Don The Younger
Russian River Brewing Company

Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Russian River Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
English Bitter
ABV:
5.65%
Score:
93
Avg:
4.22 | pDev: 9.48%
Reviews:
22
Ratings:
38
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 11, 2014
Added:
Oct 12, 2011
Wants:
  14
Gots:
  0
The brewer calls this an "American Bitter".
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by KellerBrau:
Photo of KellerBrau
Rated by KellerBrau from Oregon

5/5  rDev +18.5%

Nov 15, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.5 by chossboss from Oregon

Apr 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by muchloveforhops3 from Montana

Apr 04, 2012
 
Rated: 4.75 by gleemonger from California

Mar 29, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by bthomas from Washington

Mar 01, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by shelby415 from Oregon

Feb 29, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by beerstudent74 from Washington

Feb 17, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by animortician from California

Jan 29, 2012
Photo of gkunkle
Reviewed by gkunkle from Oregon

4.03/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Reviewing from notes: enjoyed this during the horsebrass anniversary week.

Served a a half pint at the horse brass. Body of the beer was an amber color with a one finger off-white head. Head recedes to a thick film, carbonation is visible in the body. Smell is of citrus hops. I think I detect a bit of pine in there too. In the taste I get some lemon citrus, then a subtle smooth flavor of bready malts. In the finish of the sip I get a bit of a tobacco flavor thy I quite liked. Mouthfeel is medium with a gentle carbonation. When I tasted this I would have pinned it as an IPA, but it's listed here as a bitter. I'm not sure what to call it, but I liked it. Though I never met him, it seems an appropriate tribute to a Titan of craft beer.
Jan 10, 2012
Photo of Rifugium
Reviewed by Rifugium from North Dakota

3.88/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
First had: on tap at Belmont Station, Portland, OR

Ohhh, Donnnn...
*Sorry, inside joke.

Anyway, DtY was served in a 12oz. glass, golden brown color, slightly hazy, with a sizable fluff of white head that receded to a comfortable thin layer. Aroma was pretty subdued; gently hoppy. Taste of floral and light citrus hops up front, almost like a mild AIPA, maltier mid-palate, with some lemon pith. Smooth, medium body, sessionable, not overly flavorful, but still a nice drink.
Jan 04, 2012
Photo of zaphodchak
Reviewed by zaphodchak from Virginia

4/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had a tiny taste at Belmont Station in Portland, OR. It was all I wanted, since I'm not an IPA lover. That said...

A finger of white head, and a clear blond-gold body.

Fresh hops and citrus in the nose, along with some grapefruit.

Light and crisp, the bitterness is up front and there's some more complex leafiness in the back.

Smooth, with ample texture.

Nice American IPA. Balanced, not crazy, and a clever pun by Russian River in tribute to the father of the Portland brewpub scene.
Dec 31, 2011
Photo of suncrust
Reviewed by suncrust from Washington

4.11/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Super excited I got to try this during a recent trip to Portland. On-tap @ Belmont Station's Biercafe.

Appearance: Pours a very crisp, golden, straw colored yellow. Similar to other Russian River IPAs, the hue is clear and clean with a nice soapy white cap. Excellent head retention and lacing that stuck all the way to the bottom of my Urthel Saisonniere glass.

Smell: Light herby, piney hops. Lots of grassy notes, a little bit of lemon with some citrus undertones. Overall, the aromas were on the fainter side.

Taste: Slight piney hop presence followed by sweeter biscuity malt characters. Notes of citrus and grapefruit mid-palate, finishing dry with a bit of lemon. Fresh, lighter body, with some lingering grass and hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Thin and easy to drink. A very crisp, lighter body creates a refreshing brew.

Pretty refreshing, sort of toned down RR brew that fits the style nicely. Could see this beer easily becoming a staple that every local pub in town has on tap. It would be very easy to drink this one all day....
Dec 30, 2011
Photo of MADhombrewer
Reviewed by MADhombrewer from Oregon

4.2/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Appearance- Clear straw colored. . Big stark, white head 4.5/5

Smell- Piney, piney, piney 4.5/5

Taste- Less piney than the smell. Little bit of sweetness and a funk of some sort at the end. Small lemon flavor to the end as well. Even bitterness to it. 4/5

Mouthfeel- Thinner mouthfeel. Well done. I like my IPAs more to the thinner side. 4.5/5

Overall- Very good beer. When heard they were making it I wasn't sure if I would get a chance to try it. I was pleasantly surprised to see it on tap at Belmont when I came though the door. 4/5
Dec 29, 2011
Photo of HuskyinPDX
Reviewed by HuskyinPDX from Washington

3.82/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Belmont Station on 12.27.2011.

A - Served a clear pale light yellow with a large cream-colored foamy head. Great retention and lacing left on the glass.

S - Very grassy and lemony. That is about it.

T - Piney, grass, citrus, mostly lemons.

D - Lots of carbonation and a very light body.

O - Light and hoppy, refreshing. RIP Don.
Dec 29, 2011
Photo of yourefragile
Reviewed by yourefragile from District of Columbia

4.09/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Growler shared by Mr. Thorpe.

Pours a clear copper with low carbonation; minimal thin white head that fades quickly. Strong tropical hops on the nose with light citrus and trace amounts of malt. Crisp body with a toasted malt body supporting a strong blend of tropical hops and mild herbal hops providing some balancing bitterness. Light, refreshing body with medium carbonation.
Dec 20, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by wsucoug96 from Washington

Dec 20, 2011
Photo of jdense
Reviewed by jdense from Oregon

4.13/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
On tap at the Horse Brass 11.4.11, $5.75 for Imperial Pint.

One finger soapy white head, small bubbles, very slow dissipation with very good lacing, medium gold clear body with multiple streams of rising carbonation. Nose is pretty citrusy for style, some malty sweetness, not a lot of caramel, more on the bready side. Taste is once again pretty hoppy, floral and citrus, bready malts for dryness and just enough tobacco to remind you who this beer was brewed in honor off, a few flecks of American Spirits ash for sure. Mouthfeel just on the light side of medium, good effervescence, fairly dry finish and quite sessionable. The Old Tavern Rat is pleased. Thanks to Vinny for this fitting homage.
Dec 17, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by shwillivanilli from California

Dec 16, 2011
 
Rated: 5 by spycow from Illinois

Dec 13, 2011
 
Rated: 4.25 by starrdogg from District of Columbia

Dec 09, 2011
Don The Younger from Russian River Brewing Company
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 38 ratings