French Broad IPA
French Broad River Brewing

 

 

 

 

While the ebbs-and-flows of IPA seem to veer at every turn, it's a good reminder that a fantastic IPA is still a fantastic IPA at any of the stops along the way. A showcase of hops in bitterness, flavor and aroma with a firm malty support and you really can't go wrong.

French Broad's flagship IPA pours with the familiar amber color that we've become accustomed. Capped with a creamy off-white froth and the beer comes to life- shedding an array of hoppy perfumes. Citrus, herbal grasses, fresh pine and light tropical fruit peel off from the hops as a honey-like biscuity scent gives the fruit impressions a ripe, radiant and vivid fragrance.

Gentle sweetness rolls onto the tongue with a toasted nuttiness to complement he calm honey and caramel sweetness. But the ale doesn't hold onto its sweetness too long, quickly favoring the growing hops and calming the malts gradually across the palate. Trailing hop bitterness is of fresh grass clippings, freshly shaven pine and fresh citrus peels in a smooth but piquant resinous tang.

A crisp and brisk finish proves to be highly thirst quenching and drinkable. Medium-light in body the remnants of malt are toasty and faintly starchy and upholds the hop bitterness, giving it roundness and calmness. Spicy bitterness clings onto the finish and outlasts all other flavors by a long piney margin.

 

 

 

This is my go to IPA. Visit the brewery at least once a week (2.50 pints on Mondays) and buy case of bomber special on Sunday's (case of 12 - $33).

I've lived in Asheville for a long while now, and full of guilt, can say I have never had this. Random whim at the grocery store today, picked up a bomber. No date (tired of breweries not doing this, even Budweiser gives a date...). Could be fresh, could also not be fresh. Anyways, poured into a 13oz Belgium glass. Nice half inch frothy head that dwindles down. First thing is the nose. It smells awesome. Very bright citrus right to the face. Light copper color as well. Taste is pleasant. Citrus forward hops, not tropical on this one. Traditional one could say. Has a nice malt body and a lingering bitterness. Its drawback is the feel. Not overly thin, but has a watery feel on the back end. I'd like it to have a little more oomph in that department. Overall, not a shabby beer at all. I'll buy again, without a doubt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like this beer.

Perhaps I should explain that I'm a hop head. I'm perfectly fine drinking Green Flash Palate Wrecker or (to pick something more local) Olde Hickory Death by Hops.

French Broad IPA is not like that. That's the surprising thing. In this beer the brewers have crafted an amazing amalgam, a remarkable balance, so that the malt and the hops fuse into a single unified beverage. Very smooth, very tasty, and altogether worthwhile, if you call yourself a beer drinker.

It's orange, lightly carbonated -- other reviewers have done a good job describing the appearance. The aroma is an apt harbinger of the taste, almost like a perfume. My sample came from a 22 oz. bomber, poured into a glass Carolina tankard, whence the white and blue "UNC" logo has long since been effaced by the dishwasher. The low level of carbonation had me wondering whether the beer might be more fizzy at the brewery. The cap felt tight. There's no date on the bottle, but the beer tastes fresh.

Overall, I have to give this a high recommendation. If you're partial to IPAs, this deserves a tasting. Maybe even if you're not, this might be the right sort of brew to expand your horizons. I look forward to visiting the brewery in Asheville one of these days. The beer should be even better at the source.

 

 

A: Clear copper into stein. A finger to two of cream colored head, excellent retention. Excellent appearance.

S: Citrus and pine. Not a tremendously strong pine scent, but good.

T: More of a fruity, sour taste than I was expecting. A bit more on the fruit side than I like.

M: Medium bodied, crisp, and fresh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

French Broad IPA makes a loud hiss, when the cap is popped, and the appearance is of bright, brilliant, somewhat opaque, deep orange, bubble streams, and some splotchy, thin lacing left on the glass. The head is medium and off white. The aroma is of a sharp, very citrusy, juice. Maybe, like tangerine? Taste is of the same thing, and the beer evokes Lemon Head or Sweet-Tarts. Bitterness is present, but relatively low. Mouthfeel is medium, and French Broad IPA finishes mostly dry and odd. Overall, this is a strange one, but it does improve with the drinking.

RJT