Spruce Tip IPA
Raquette River Brewing
- From:
- Raquette River Brewing
- New York, United States
- Style:
- American IPA
- ABV:
- 6.9%
- Score:
- +7 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 4.18 | pDev: 8.85%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 3
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 29, 2025
- Added:
- Sep 17, 2023
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
NO SCORE
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This West Coast style IPA brewed with spruce tips in support of Northern NY Audubon's Mission. Spruce Grouse, sometimes called Fool Hens, are a year-round resident of the Adirondacks. Their summer diet of insects helps keep tick populations low. Each year, these hardy winter birds grow their digestive track by 45% to accommodate an all-needle diet of spruce, fir, and pine. They can transform their feet into "snowshoes" by growing small fingerlike protrusions on their toes. Found nowhere else in NY, their population was severely impacted in the 1900's by logging. It continues to decline annually due to human causes. Fewer than 100 birds are left in NYS. One of the largest populations is north of Raquette River Brewing near Massawepie.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by beerthulhu from New Jersey
3.67/5 rDev -12.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.67/5 rDev -12.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A: Medium orange with a light haziness has a gentle, spacious factor of effervesce suspended about. A beige compact and firm, cushy head sits 1/2 inch above with a lengthy stay. Solid multiple lace rings run down the vessel walls with a dense coverage.
S: A bit of fresh lemon and wet pine tree is first on the nose. The spruce comes through as earthy greens, semi-dry, with a bit of dried pinecone, juniper and light tea notes. There is a bit of green stalkiness, grape stems with a faint awareness. There are a number of subtle elements here with a slight lager yeastiness and breadiness to the overall scent.
T: Again as with the nose the flavor showed a bit of lager yeastiness, earthy green spruce notes, wet hay and barley are first. Resinous spruce and pine notes, musky hops and a musky green stalkiness. A light background of caramel malting has a light and dry bitterness along with a some earthy grassy hops.
M: Medium build for the mouthful, some sticky caramel and light carbonation texture. A musky and bitter grain lacing.
O: Overall the spruce gives this a earthy and musky feel along with a lager like yeastiness. There is a good amount of subtle complexity that adds to the real feel and flavor, giving this earthy green flavors along with some dry wildflowers and leafy grassiness. A truly old world unique drink.
Jan 29, 2025S: A bit of fresh lemon and wet pine tree is first on the nose. The spruce comes through as earthy greens, semi-dry, with a bit of dried pinecone, juniper and light tea notes. There is a bit of green stalkiness, grape stems with a faint awareness. There are a number of subtle elements here with a slight lager yeastiness and breadiness to the overall scent.
T: Again as with the nose the flavor showed a bit of lager yeastiness, earthy green spruce notes, wet hay and barley are first. Resinous spruce and pine notes, musky hops and a musky green stalkiness. A light background of caramel malting has a light and dry bitterness along with a some earthy grassy hops.
M: Medium build for the mouthful, some sticky caramel and light carbonation texture. A musky and bitter grain lacing.
O: Overall the spruce gives this a earthy and musky feel along with a lager like yeastiness. There is a good amount of subtle complexity that adds to the real feel and flavor, giving this earthy green flavors along with some dry wildflowers and leafy grassiness. A truly old world unique drink.
Reviewed by SLeffler27 from New York
4.34/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.34/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours clear amber (SRM 5-7) with fine carbonation swarming upwards. An off-white head forms a tight, long lasting, one and a half inches. Upon adding the last two ounces from the can, a slight yeast haze develops. Lacing produces thick rings interspersed with curtains on a Strangebird IIPA glass.
The aroma opens with mild, spicy spruce. Very reminiscent of summer forest aromas. Warmth elevates the spruce and spice characteristics and I was unable to find any cedar aromas.
The flavor has far more spruce than suggested by the aroma. Bitterness is pleasant from middle to finish. There is an interesting flavor reminiscent of gin in the middle. It is spicy with no tropical or citrus flavors whatsoever. Pine and pine straw follow, however, they pale in comparison to the spruce. The finish is long, with mild bitterness and a touch of juniper.
The body is medium to full, with a slick smooth texture similar to satin. The carbonation is modest, while astringency is light. Alcohol is slightly more present than expected. It has a mild numbing effect on the gums.
I was very much looking forward to finding and trying a Spruce Tip beer, and this one certainly scratched that itch. The flavors are bold and interesting, and it really captures the Adirondack forest smells and flavors of the air.
Dec 30, 2024The aroma opens with mild, spicy spruce. Very reminiscent of summer forest aromas. Warmth elevates the spruce and spice characteristics and I was unable to find any cedar aromas.
The flavor has far more spruce than suggested by the aroma. Bitterness is pleasant from middle to finish. There is an interesting flavor reminiscent of gin in the middle. It is spicy with no tropical or citrus flavors whatsoever. Pine and pine straw follow, however, they pale in comparison to the spruce. The finish is long, with mild bitterness and a touch of juniper.
The body is medium to full, with a slick smooth texture similar to satin. The carbonation is modest, while astringency is light. Alcohol is slightly more present than expected. It has a mild numbing effect on the gums.
I was very much looking forward to finding and trying a Spruce Tip beer, and this one certainly scratched that itch. The flavors are bold and interesting, and it really captures the Adirondack forest smells and flavors of the air.
Reviewed by tigg924 from Massachusetts
4.54/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.54/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Had on tap at the brewery. Pours clear, gold in color with one quarter inch head. Taste is big spruce and earthy hops. Medium body, moderate carbonation, bitter. One of themost spruce centered beers I have had. Delicious and unique.
Sep 17, 2023
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