French Broad IPA | French Broad River Brewing

3.95/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a 1/2 inch head with mild carbonation. Head dissapated to a ring but had good lacing. Had a malty hoppy nose but the taste wasn't as malty as the nose which I liked. Taste had the grapefruitty hoppy california style with a malt backbone which was certainly appreciated. A medium light mouthfeel which could have used more body. Overall a nice IPA which I will do again.

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3.72/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

I like the new grading system here on BA.Poured into an imperial pint glass a hazed burnt orange tinged deep golden with a thinner but well sustained white head atop.The hops are not real big in the nose,there is some floral and leafy notes but the biscuit malt is almost as big.Citrusy and leafy hops have a good presence on the palate but they are not huge,a somewhat sweet caramel/biscuit malt base is pretty large.It's smooth and it has good hops it's just not as big as many American IPA's.

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3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

3/5  rDev -21.1%

3.63/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

22 oz bottle served in a snifter.

A: amber color; clear with modest size off-white head. The head is exceptionally sticky and leaves great lacing.

There's plenty of grapefruit and orange in both the aroma and the taste. The malt is more evident in the nose, and implied by the tempered bitterness in the taste. The beer is, nonetheless, rather bitter, with a lingering grapefruit rind flavor in the aftertaste. Alcohol is not hidden at all.

M: smooth; very good carbonation level; medium body; semi-dry finish.

O: a solid if rather unremarkable IPA. Enough hop load to satisfy hop heads.

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4/5  rDev +5.3%

4.5/5  rDev +18.4%

3.97/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

4/5  rDev +5.3%

4/5  rDev +5.3%

4.2/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - pours a pale amber with a faint orange hint to it; big inch of white head that is thick, soft, and cloud-like; great retention

S - big orange, citrusy notes first followed by a solid floral aroma

T - faint bread, sweet, faint birthday cake, big hoppy character, citrusy, oranges, floral, bitter, lightly piny, bitterness hangs on the palate for a while after the swallow

M - lightly carbonated, medium bodied, smooth

This an enjoyable, highly drinkable beer. The hops are intense and the overall flavor is solid despite the below average malt character. I would have preferred a little more malt to lend some balance to the intense, flavorful hop character. Overall though this is one more solid French Broad offering.

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3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

3.57/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Pour an effervescent orange/amber with 2 fingers of cream colored head. Superior lacing & head retention

S: Breadyness & faint fruitty notes

T: Breadyness, grassy woody, & citrussy hops up front. Some caramel, dryness, piney & woody hops as this warms, some orange rind as well. Finishes with woody hops, a touch a of grainyness, mineral hops & caramel notes

MF: Medium bodied with fairly subtle carbonation, good balance

Drinks easy enough, kind of subdued as AIPAs go. If you like them balanced & drinkable this a good choice. Would drink this again when seeking that

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3/5  rDev -21.1%

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

4/5  rDev +5.3%

3.6/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

3/5  rDev -21.1%

3.68/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A bomber bottle from the brewery during the recent sabbatical.

A: The IPA is a golden orange tint, translucent. Sporting a white head, it is. Plenty of lacing too.

S: The nose focuses on caramel and biscuit, the malty side head and shoulders above the hops. As the citrus slowly emerges, it doesn't overtake the malts. Instead, the soft citrus plays a supporting role in the aroma.

T: The IPA is well balanced, perhaps a little closer to the APA zone. Caramel and biscuits, more of the latter, set up the citrus that follows. That results in grapefruit in a supporting role, a domestique if you will, to the malts. Not a bad pairing, the grapefruit providing enough pizzazz to remind you of an IPA. The ale is rather dry as well, pulling the sweetness out of the ale and leaving the biscuit with the last laugh.

M: Carbonated, nice malt lead in. The hops, though, could use just a little more juice to 'em. Best place to drink French Broad's IPA? In their funky brewery/tasting room - make the trip.

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4/5  rDev +5.3%

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

3.25/5  rDev -14.5%

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%