Hopfather
Russian River Brewing Company

On tap at Blind Lady SD, 0.5 L pour into a pint glass, back-to-back with Younger.

Slightly opaque golden-tan, lacing everywhere. Nose is of citrus peel, freshly cut grass, subtle tropical aspects.

More fruity on the palate, with notes of papaya and pineapple. Subtle floral notes add context; rosewater, dandelion. Malts reveal a candied orange aspect toward the finish, closing with a medium finish with little lingering residuals.

Unbelievably amazing beverage. Is the sister IPA to Pliny…if this was made 15 years ago, before all the BS weighting, would top the charts. Simply blows away any NE IPA, a culinary factoid.

 

To maximize the olfactory experience I poured this into a snifter glass. It is a delightful golden color with a bit of soft foam. The nose screams tropical island. Tastes like Hawaii. Mouthfeel is exquisite.

Growler poured into a Mountain Rambler Brewery pint glass

A: Pours crystal clear golden yellow with a frothy cream white head that settles to a firm layer and laces nicely.

S: Earthy, stone fruit, resinous pine, citrus zest, grassy herbal notes, and biscuity bready malt.

T: Citrus zest, grapefruit, lemon, and orange, resinous pine, stone fruit, peach, plum, cherry, and apricot, hints of melon, a bit earthy, grassy, and herbal, biscuity bready malt, and a dry finish.

M: Medium body, moderate carbonation, faintly oily, crisp.

O: Wouldn't be my first choice if I was looking at their draft board, but still a very well made kinda old school style Westy, as you'd expect from Vinny. I'd love to know what hops they threw at it.

 

 

 

Poured into a Seattle Beer Week glass. Pours a light to medium golden amber with a one finger white head with good retention and nice lacing. Aroma of lightly caramel malt, citrus and fruit hops, orange, grapefruit, mixed tropical fruit, green melon and a hint of pine. Flavor is pale malt, citrus and piney hops, orange, grapefruit, pine and herbal dankness with a little mixed tropical and stone fruit. Medium bodied with light to medium creaminess. The classic Russian River profile of light to moderate malt depth and aromatic hops are present. Interestingly, the aroma and flavor are rather different, with the aroma mostly citrus and fruit, while the taste is more classic West Coast citrus and pine with some dankness, but with a little mixed fruit to keep things interesting. Great pine and citrus rind bitterness in the finish. Delightful.

 

 

 

 

 

On tap at Atomic Liquors in Las Vegas, NV.

This one pours a clear golden yellow color, with a small head, and lots of lacing.

This smells kind of peachy, with marijuana and spicy hop bitterness, plus orange and grapefruit.

This is a very simple, straightforward West Coast IPA, and it’s done quite well. There’s very little maltiness to this, but lots of spicy and herbal hop bitterness, and a really pleasant stone fruit and citrusy hop character – melon, peach, grapefruit, and orange peel.

This is lighter bodied, but super crisp and clean, with a great drinkability.

There’s a lot to love here – it’s just a super solid and well done West Coast IPA.

2025-02-16
Pint on tap at Chuck's Hop Shop Seward Park.

Pours bright, clear brassy, medium head, tons of carbonation. Smell is lemon rind and orange blossom, fresh pine. Taste is right in line with the aroma, well balanced floral sweetness and citrus bitterness. Mouthfeel is light and smooth with a hint of oily texture. Very good beer.

 

 

 

Underrated.