Hop Growers Tribute Series: Crosby Hops
Russian River Brewing Company

 

 

Well I got in on the tail end of this one. I noticed on UNT that the ratings are lower as one gets away from the date kegged/bottled. But two and a half months in it's still outstanding.

Clear golden amber with plenty of foam in the Stella Artois goblet. Lovely aroma of lime peel with a touch of ripe green melon. Citrus in the nose. Light body, sudsy mouthfeel, and a tangy finish. Rather rich but full of the fresh hop taste. Quite elegant, even with the earthy hops. One of the better fresh hop brews this year. Happy to see this in the 500 ml bottle so I can put the cap on and enjoy some more tomorrow. Purchased at the Northwest beer store and dated 08/27/24.

510 mL bottle marked bottled on "082724 11.29".

Straw gold body with bright white head…long lasting and superb lacing. Initial aroma of apricot, citrus and perhaps melon. Into the drink, aroma of light malt. A very clean taste of bright hop bitterness with a light lingering finish. Mouthfeel was light with a dry finish, with delicate carbonation. A very well made IPA.

 

Pours a medium golden amber with a two finger white head that dissipates to a thick cap with moderate lacing. Aroma of pale malt, citrus and dank hops, vague citrus, green onion, light dankness; mildly floral. Flavor is biscuit and pale malt, citrus and piney hops with a touch of dankness, wisps of mixed fruit and lightly floral. Nice lingering bitterness with light resinous character. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess. For some reason, I didn’t get the typical RR burst of hop botanicals on opening the bottle, but the aroma in the glass was quite nice. The profile leans to West Coast citrus and pine, but there are mixed fruit and dank notes as well, flavors are well balanced to the point of allowing different flavors to surface during the taste. Solid finish. Not sure what the hops were here, but tastes like a variety were used. With a bunch of fresh hop ales lined up for the next few weeks, glad I fit this one in before the flood; it's fine as usual for this brewery. Great tribute to this hop grower.

On tap in Sacramento - clear pale gold straw color with white head leaving significant lacing. Nose is freshy fresh hoppy goodness. Taste follows with a dryish finish. Medium body and carbonation. An excellent wcipa from RR.

Clear, golden body; dense, lively, tiny-bubble carbonation; thick head, white and softly sculpted, long-lasting. Great floral and berry-like notes in the aroma. perfum-like. Clean and nuanced flavor; delicate malt base with a bold and satisfying hop bitterness; subtle hints of cracker and biscuit; a daub of fruity esters; clean tasting. Medium body; crisp; a moderate sense of overall dryness with a twinge of light residual sugar feel.

This is an extraordinary and gloriously refined example of a west coast-style India pale ale. It exudes craftsmanship and brewing art skills. A magnificent beer and a joy to experience.

ABV: 6.5%; pouring temperature: 44 °F; bottling info: 082724
Source: local purchase (Coaltrain Fine Wine, Craft Beer & Spirits)

Wow! This is sweet and pungent! Best carbonation tickles the nose, and i nice finger of foam on top. Not heavy. Not light. Just a nice oily viscosity with some weight and an amazing hip flavor. This is good!

 

 

 

I have made the pilgrimage to Santa Rosa a few times and each time has been educational in some way. Once I had the full flite at the Windsor campus (meaning, Belgian style plus all the other IPAs and whatever else is on tap) and I got to taste a whole bunch of different RRBC IPAs basically side-by-side. While sophistos and aficionados would probably taste fruity and citrussy notes, to me many seemed so similar in flavor profile-- in a good way-- that I couldn't distinguish one from another. Maybe because I had a couple of goblets of Beatification first? In any case, I am having a glass of this (bottled late August 2024) right now and it is pretty hot outside, and this is refreshing. Clean, quick finish-- something I appreciate-- but longer than some RRBC IPA offerings. Is it worth going on the hunt for? Not for me, but if I see it I would buy it again. According to their Website, "brewed with Comet, Chinook, Amarillo, and Strata hops."