Happy Hops
Russian River Brewing Company

Happy HopsHappy Hops
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From:
Russian River Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
American IPA
Ranked #236
ABV:
6.5%
Score:
92
Ranked #4,733
Avg:
4.14 | pDev: 8.7%
Reviews:
162
Ratings:
582
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 12, 2024
Added:
Aug 21, 2008
Wants:
  27
Gots:
  72
Happy Hops was originally brewed by the Grace Brothers Brewery in 1944 right here in Santa Rosa! Their brewery went out of business in the 1960’s, but we wanted to resurrect “Happy” and a new fun beer for him to enjoy! It is also a way for us to pay homage to the Grace Family and their brewing pioneer history. Happy Hops is an incredibly hoppy India Pale Ale with an immense hop aroma and flavor and a mild bitterness. Happy Hops is an IPA brewed with both new and old hop varieties, giving this beer bold aromas and flavors with notes of tropical and stone fruits.

50 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Beer21:
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Rated by Beer21 from Florida

4.12/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

May 03, 2016
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.59 by QuintusHorace from California

Mar 12, 2024
 
Rated: 4.21 by Mjr89121 from Colorado

Feb 20, 2024
 
Rated: 3.95 by shagal from Canada (AB)

Dec 29, 2023
Photo of cjgiant
Reviewed by cjgiant from District of Columbia

4.35/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Bottle dated 12/7:
Near crystal clear yellow, leaning golden, with a sticky, though loose head for my pour. Nose is nicely dank, along the lines of what now probably should be called old school IPAs. Citrus rind (with extra lemon peel), weed with an allusion to something catty that doesn’t fully develop.

Light body plays into the impression of a Pilsner (especially paired with the color), but one that a west coast American brewer completely defiled. Taste leans a little more into the earthy side of dank, with hints of tropical fruit rind. Citrus rind is more grapefruit than lemon, and bitterness is strong but not overwhelming. Nostalgia is included free of charge, it seems.
Dec 19, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by ssimpson89 from Illinois

Nov 20, 2023
 
Rated: 4.19 by Taenim from Maine

Nov 10, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by Jdells09 from New Jersey

Sep 28, 2023
 
Rated: 4.04 by LA2ED7

Sep 18, 2023
Photo of Orca
Reviewed by Orca from Washington

4/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
510mL bottle (packaged 8/15/2023) into a tulip. Pours a clear pale golden color with a bright white head.

Aroma is a subtle blend of piney, citrusy, and floral hops. Lemon zest, clean pale malt.

Taste is sharply bright and hoppy with a clean bitter but not resinous finish. Neutral pale malt. More lemon zest and prickly alpha acids.

Mouthfeel is medium-light bodied, finishes clean.

Overall a well-crafted, straightforward, refreshing IPA.
Sep 14, 2023
Photo of UWDAWG
Reviewed by UWDAWG from Washington

4.46/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a 510ml bottle dated 7-6-23 into a tulip glass.

Look- Pale straw, moderately hazy, creamy white head, plentiful visible particulate, active carbonation, above average head retention and lacing.

Smell- Floral, pine resin, grapefruit, mildly dank, medium strength of scent.

Taste- Grapefruit, pine resin, slight apricot, medium strength of flavor.

Feel- Between thin and medium body, above average carbonation, moderately bitter, moderately creamy, crisp, mildly dry finish.

Overall- Pale straw and moderately hazy with plentiful visible particulate. Bouquet was pine resin, grapefruit and floral with dank notes. Flavor was grapefruit and pine resin with a slight apricot character. Body was between thin and medium with moderate creaminess and a crisp mildly dry finish. Overall this beer provided a very enjoyable drinking experience. It was a classic West Coast style IPA with great flavor at just 6.5% ABV.
Sep 08, 2023
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Reviewed by buschbeer from Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
1 PINT, 1.25 FL OZ bottle
Served in an imperial nonic pint glass

This beer pours a brilliant golden hue and is topped with a couple inches of beige head that coats the side of the glass leaving rings of lacing as I imbibe.

It has a nice, old-school grapefruit and pine aroma.

Citrus and pine flavor. Citrus upfront with a focus on grapefruit. Resiny pine on the back end with a lingering bitterness.

Medium bodied with an effervescent mouthfeel

I really enjoyed this beer. Just a nice, simple hoppy IPA.
Sep 08, 2023
 
Rated: 4.32 by saymike32 from New Jersey

Aug 24, 2023
Photo of Sabtos
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio

3.98/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Chill hazed burnt gold with an unevenly short white head that dissipates quickly.

Surprisingly subtle for some Russian River hops, it's lightly pungent with an almost cornbready malt, a bit of an herbally European floral quality and a touch of citrus.

Beautifully dry though.
Aug 24, 2023
 
Rated: 4.23 by grittybrews from Washington

Aug 14, 2023
Photo of mntlover
Reviewed by mntlover from Tennessee

4.03/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a clear yellow bubbles feeding a small bar pour white head, great lace given it was bar pour. Aroma is bright citrus, tropical hints, sweetness from the malt. Light but hoppy smelling. Taste follows the nose light bright west coast style, citrus, light tropical, pine needle notes medium bitterness. Mouthfeel is lighter side pretty peppy carbonation. Overall pretty tasty.
Aug 02, 2023
Photo of mothman
Reviewed by mothman from Minnesota

4.34/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Bottle. White head with lace. Clear golden color.

Nice west coast ipa. Dank, weedy, piney, resiny. Also has some citrus and peach flavor. Nice hop combo and bitterness here. Clean, lower abv. Very enjoyable pint of beer.
Jul 29, 2023
 
Rated: 3.46 by btbcolo from Colorado

Jun 30, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by njbusa from New Jersey

Jun 05, 2023
 
Rated: 3 by Holderness from Massachusetts

May 19, 2023
Happy Hops from Russian River Brewing Company
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 582 ratings