Happy Hops
Russian River Brewing Company
- From:
- Russian River Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- American IPA
Ranked #232 - ABV:
- 6.5%
- Score:
- 92
Ranked #5,248 - Avg:
- 4.15 | pDev: 8.67%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 186
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 21, 2026
- Added:
- Aug 21, 2008
- Wants:
- 27
- Gots:
- 74
SCORE
92
Outstanding
92
Outstanding
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
50 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by mushroomcloud:
Reviewed by mushroomcloud from Texas
4.31/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.31/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
17.25 oz bottled on 10-1-25, opened on 10-25-25.
2+ finger white head with excellent staying power.
Straw golden body with very good clarity.
Thick, clingy lacing pervades.
Mild aroma of lemon citrus and light pine.
Flavor comes alive with more lemon but bold and zesty, more citrus, some melon and apricot as well.
Light, bright body with medium level of carbonation and a zingy mouthfeel. Medium length and dry finish.
Outstanding.
Oct 26, 20252+ finger white head with excellent staying power.
Straw golden body with very good clarity.
Thick, clingy lacing pervades.
Mild aroma of lemon citrus and light pine.
Flavor comes alive with more lemon but bold and zesty, more citrus, some melon and apricot as well.
Light, bright body with medium level of carbonation and a zingy mouthfeel. Medium length and dry finish.
Outstanding.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
4.21/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
500ml bottle from Volcanic Bottle Shop. Clear golden pour, stiff, rocky head leaves rings of lacing. Light, pleasing citrusy aroma. Taste is mild grapefruit and lemon zest with a nice bready backbone. Just a hint of dryness at the finish and a dull tingle that gradually fades away.
Feb 24, 2026
Reviewed by Wasatch from Colorado
4.6/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.6/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
510 ml Bottle
BOTTLED ON: 120325
Poured into a Trillium glass a very nice clean/clear dark golden yellow color, very nice carbonation, with a very nice thick/creamy two-finger off-white head, which also leaves some pretty nice sticky lacing behind. The nose is hoppy, malty, with a very nice citrus complex (orange, tangerine, grapefruit, pineapple, mango), very nice pineyness. The taste is very nice hoppy, malty, with a very nice citrus complex (orange, tangerine, grapefruit, pineapple, mango), very nice pineyness. Medium body, ABV hidden very nicely, with a pretty nice dry/bitter finish. Overall, this is a very tasty beer.
Feb 02, 2026BOTTLED ON: 120325
Poured into a Trillium glass a very nice clean/clear dark golden yellow color, very nice carbonation, with a very nice thick/creamy two-finger off-white head, which also leaves some pretty nice sticky lacing behind. The nose is hoppy, malty, with a very nice citrus complex (orange, tangerine, grapefruit, pineapple, mango), very nice pineyness. The taste is very nice hoppy, malty, with a very nice citrus complex (orange, tangerine, grapefruit, pineapple, mango), very nice pineyness. Medium body, ABV hidden very nicely, with a pretty nice dry/bitter finish. Overall, this is a very tasty beer.
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota
4.17/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.17/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
510ml bottle. Stamp on label is 'BOTTLED ON: 102825', about eight weeks in the bottle.
Clear, straw to pale gold colored body. Two fingers of classic white colored head, and this becomes a partial cap and full high reaching ring. Leaves behind large areas of lacing webs.
Aroma of citrus, tropical, and pine resin. Lemon, orange, mango.
Taste allows the bitterness to emerge early and stick around. Some level of malt sweetness for balance. Fruit and herbal/pine hop flavors - lemon, orange, grapefruit, peach, and mango. Includes rind, pith, and skin. Pine brings bitterness, with some earthiness. Aftertaste stays bitter and earthy.
Medium mouthfeel. Almost a mineral note, with a dry finish. Some tongue numbing going on. Very good carbonation, as the partial bubbly cap follows the body down the glass.
West Coast IPA which gets more dank as it warms. The resin resonates.
Dec 25, 2025Clear, straw to pale gold colored body. Two fingers of classic white colored head, and this becomes a partial cap and full high reaching ring. Leaves behind large areas of lacing webs.
Aroma of citrus, tropical, and pine resin. Lemon, orange, mango.
Taste allows the bitterness to emerge early and stick around. Some level of malt sweetness for balance. Fruit and herbal/pine hop flavors - lemon, orange, grapefruit, peach, and mango. Includes rind, pith, and skin. Pine brings bitterness, with some earthiness. Aftertaste stays bitter and earthy.
Medium mouthfeel. Almost a mineral note, with a dry finish. Some tongue numbing going on. Very good carbonation, as the partial bubbly cap follows the body down the glass.
West Coast IPA which gets more dank as it warms. The resin resonates.
Rated by johnnnniee from New Hampshire
4.15/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.15/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Can shared by someone at the tasters choice tasting back in July, thanks for the opportunity!
Oct 02, 2025
Reviewed by beerbellydaddy from California
4.65/5 rDev +12%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
4.65/5 rDev +12%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
I've had this on tap at a local restaurant several times. Its always top notch - clean, clear, filled with bubbles, nice head and lacing. It has a smooth hoppy taste without being obnoxious. It is a perfect WCIPA.
Sep 20, 2025
Reviewed by TheRougeBastard from North Carolina
3.89/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.89/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Historic (but upgraded) IPA. Originally brewed in 1944, revisited by RR with today's hops, the result is a modern west-coast IPA that is smooth and drinkable! Bottle art is from the original...pretty cool!
Jul 27, 2025
Reviewed by mickyge from Massachusetts
4.27/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours clear and shiny yellow and a nice white head
It has a citrus, tropical aroma and floral notes
Taste is bright and tropical/ citrus
Mouthfeel is crisp and clean and a bit astringent
Overall it’s a great WC style AIPA ticks all the boxes
Jul 25, 2025It has a citrus, tropical aroma and floral notes
Taste is bright and tropical/ citrus
Mouthfeel is crisp and clean and a bit astringent
Overall it’s a great WC style AIPA ticks all the boxes
Rated by jcchristie2 from Arkansas
5/5 rDev +20.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +20.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Excellent beer
Jul 20, 2025
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina
4.18/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.18/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Picked up a 500 ml bottle from the Elizabeth Station cooler in Bellingham, WA on 7-8-25 for $8.19. Bottled on 5-9-25; consumed 7-10-25. Cold stored since purchase.
Beer poured clear gold with a near perfect white head that is maintaining a one-finger head.
Nose is very nice as i am getting citrus and floral hops.
Taste leans towards the WC style as the pale malt base is fairly light. Hopping lends a slightly different twist as i am getting a grapefruit and peach combination up front. On the back end i am getting a piney bite, some rind, and residual grapefruit in post sip aspirations; 7/10 on my bitterness scale.
Mouthfeel is soft and creamy yet refreshing at the same time.
Overall there is a lot of very good qualities around this beer, just the hop combo flavor lacks.
Jul 11, 2025Beer poured clear gold with a near perfect white head that is maintaining a one-finger head.
Nose is very nice as i am getting citrus and floral hops.
Taste leans towards the WC style as the pale malt base is fairly light. Hopping lends a slightly different twist as i am getting a grapefruit and peach combination up front. On the back end i am getting a piney bite, some rind, and residual grapefruit in post sip aspirations; 7/10 on my bitterness scale.
Mouthfeel is soft and creamy yet refreshing at the same time.
Overall there is a lot of very good qualities around this beer, just the hop combo flavor lacks.
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!