Parking Violation
Russian River Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

Looks like a pale ale. Smells malty and crisp. The crispness doesn't carry over to the taste, which is full, wet, tasty. Drinkable and carbonated. Pretty good beer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On tap at the brewpub. From notes.

A: Pours a clear, orange-amber body with substantial head (still 2 fingers when I receive the glass) and outstanding retention. It leaves nice sheets of lace down the sides of the nonic. Nice.

S: Grapefruit, orange peel, and pine aromas define the beer. Lest it be mistaken for an IPA masquerading as an APA, it serves up toffee, bread, and toasted malt in balance.

T: A nice backbone of toffee, bready malt and toast flavor set the initial taste. It progresses into a citric blend of grapefruit and orange pith. Pine comes through more in the finish, melding with orange rind to produce a slight, lingering bitterness.

M: Light-medium bodied. Active carbonation that produces a clean finish, though there is some lingering bitterness. Dry finish.

D: I know you're not 'supposed' to give an APA an A+, but for the style, it's outstanding. It's way more drinkable than Russian River's DIPAs, and if I had been smart I would have gotten a growler of it the last time I was at the pub. Hopefully it comes on again this summer.

64oz Russian River growler complements of augustgarage. Thanks as always!

A- Lots of sticky icky head. Snow-white, big bubbles and a dense formation. Beer is a pale gold, pretty on-par for style. Actually, perhaps a bit darker than usual.

S- Orange/tangerine, touch of grapefruit.

T- Follows the nose, fruity and citrus-heavy. Lemon zest. More grapefruit. A bit of pine resin. Clean, crisp, tasty.

M- Great carbonation, light, bubbly, refreshing.

D- High. One of the best pales I've ever had. Great job of dialing in on the hops while keeping the malt low and the sweetness in check.

On-tap @ the brewpub. Served in a nonic.

Lightly reddish orange, clear witha very thin sudsy head. Pleasant rich lacing.

Faint clover honey, orange-zest, and biscuity malt - very delicate aroma overall.

A touch of sweetness, buttermilk biscuit-like malt, with a moderately bitter citrusy hop profile. Finish is somewhat earthy and almost peppery. Clean, zippy, and easy drinking.

Lively carbonation, light bodied...

Very low ABV and good pure flavor make this a premier session ale, perfect for the arrival of Summer.

From a growler picked up at the incomparable Russian River brewpub 06/12. Poured (many times) into a Russian River branded glass and reviewed on a beautiful sunny afternoon 06/13/10. 40 IBU 5.47 ABV.

Forms a very dense and well retained medium sized off-white head. Body is a clean pale auburn with a very slight haze. Leaves some nice lacing.

Somewhat hoppier aroma than the listed bitterness units had me expecting. Spicy and floral bitter hop goodness, there's a fair amount of citrus but it's more orange than grapefruit interestingly. Sweet bread and caramel malts are also very nice.

Taste follows the aroma but with the caramel malts slightly more up front. Somehow manages to be fairly hop forward especially on the aftertaste without being particularly bitter. I'm reminded of SNPA at moments during this tasting but this is a little cleaner and drier with a much more pleasant and more complex finish.

Supremely drinkable thanks both to the balance and the relatively light body. If I didn't have a busy day ahead of me I could sit here on the balcony and drink this all day.

I'll admit this one surprised me and I'm a little embarrassed I've passed up on it on so many other trips to the pub. I've heard it said that if you want to brew a great APA to brew an IPA and call it an APA. This beer avoids that 'cheat' and still comes off as a winner.