Row 2/Hill 56
Russian River Brewing Company

Row 2/Hill 56Row 2/Hill 56
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From:
Russian River Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
American Pale Ale
Ranked #26
ABV:
5.8%
Score:
95
Ranked #1,516
Avg:
4.28 | pDev: 8.88%
Reviews:
173
Ratings:
1,324
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 27, 2024
Added:
Jan 22, 2012
Wants:
  276
Gots:
  109
Row 2 Hill 56 is a pale ale brewed with 100% Simcoe hops selected from the three original Simcoe-growing families in Yakima, WA, referenced on the front of this label. We have forged not only long-lasting partnerships but friendships with these families and cherish our annual visits during the hop harvest each fall. Row 2 Hill 56 has a classic Simcoe aroma with notes of grapefruit and pine with a lingering hoppy finish.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Roguer:
Photo of Roguer
Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut

4.26/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Beautiful brew: orange/amber, slight haze, great head retention. Hoppy aroma (citrus/pine).

Incredible balance and touch. Lots of hops, but not at all overwhelming, and a creamy base to the malts. There's no major alcohol presence, but it drinks much bigger than its modest ABV.

A really excellent APA. I think this deserves consideration alongside the best APAs in the business.
Apr 09, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.38 by rickrem from California

Jan 27, 2024
 
Rated: 4.15 by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

Jan 08, 2024
Photo of TooManyGlasses
Reviewed by TooManyGlasses from Canada (AB)

4.29/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
510 ml bottle - now 5.4% ABV.
Near clear bright golden pour with finger of bubbly white head - laces nicely.
Aroma is piney and a touch dank and herbal - almost a hint of diesel and garlic, floral notes; as warmed slightly, prominent ripe citrus - orange/grapefruit.
Taste is hop forward - herbal and earthy; piney with grapefruit and floral notes and a touch dank; moderate building bitterness.
Light end of medium mouthfeel - crisp, dry and very pleasantly bitter.
Nov 30, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by Jdells09 from New Jersey

Sep 29, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by NickThePyro from Washington

Sep 27, 2023
Photo of Orca
Reviewed by Orca from Washington

4.24/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
510mL bottle (packaged 8/22/2023) into a tulip. Pours a clear, pale yellow, almost greenish color with a 1-finger sudsy head and lively carbonation.

Aroma is clean bright hops (I learned after drinking this that it’s straight-up Simcoe—but I thought I was detecting a blend of New and Old World hops, so I was off the mark there) and neutral biscuity pale malt.

Taste follows nose. More if that lightly bready pale malt and a blend of mostly floral hops with a touch of citrus. Crisp, gently bitter finish.

Mouthfeel is balanced and light, dances on the palate. Goes down extremely easy.

Overall this is an outstanding, unique pale ale that straddles the line between American and European brewing techniques and ingredients. So supremely drinkable and refreshing.
Sep 14, 2023
 
Rated: 4.15 by jason_nwx from Oregon

Sep 10, 2023
 
Rated: 3.76 by DVMin98 from North Carolina

Aug 02, 2023
Photo of jdhops
Reviewed by jdhops from Tennessee

4.23/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Canned 6/16/23.

L: Pours a crystal clear gold with a big bubbly white head that quickly thins on top but sticks around the glass. Lots of upwardly mobile bubbles. Thin and minimal lacing.

S: Aromas of flowers and pine, neither prominent. Thankfully, no Simcoe dirty socks smell.

T: Orange and lemon up front, then some grapefruit. Finishes dry and slightly bitter, with a touch of Simcoe dankness.

F: Pleasantly light mouthfeel. Medium carbonation.

O: Solid and well balanced. Outstanding look and feel overshadows the just fine taste.
Jul 31, 2023
Photo of mothman
Reviewed by mothman from Minnesota

4.42/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Bottle. White head with lace. Clear yellow gold color.

Pine, resin, and dank. Very hoppy, nice bitterness. Simcoe stank. Touch of citrus. Bready malts. Nice bitter, weedy, finish.

Excellent pale ale and only 5.4% is super nice.
Jul 22, 2023
Photo of TheWaySheGoes
Reviewed by TheWaySheGoes from Illinois

4.54/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Softer mouthfeel than expected, and really smooth on the palette. Lot of citrus and grapefruit hits the tip of the tongue. Crackery, bready malt hits the backend finish. In the middle I get honeydew and other citrus notes that balance it out. Mild to moderate bitterness. Extremely well balanced pale ale. Floral and dank at the same time. What an absolute stunner of a pale. It smells like an imperial IPA but drinks like a 7%er. Loaded with flavor. Better than Blind Pig imo.
Jul 22, 2023
Photo of LiquidAmber
Reviewed by LiquidAmber from Washington

4.18/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a light to medium golden amber with a three finger white head with good retention and lacing. Aroma of pale malt, citrus and piney hops, orange and pine. Flavor is pale malt, citrus and piney hops, grapefruit, lemon, pine and a little dankness in the finish. Lingering citrus rind and pine in the finish. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess. Pleased to find another Russian River ale to try, especially one with Simcoe hops. I think this hop is one of the few that is complex and complementary enough to stand alone in single hops ales, and it does so here. The herbal character is somewhat subdued from many the IPAs brewed here, but works nicely as a pale ale. Enjoyable and fresh; Russian River beers don't seem to dawdle as much as many others on their way to Washington from California and it shows.
Jul 06, 2023
Photo of AZgman
Reviewed by AZgman from Arizona

3.83/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This beer has a very different flavor profile for RR. The taste is unique enough that you will either love it or hate it. Poured from a week old bottle, (I am currently in Santa Rosa), into a Pliney glass. This brew may mellow with some time in the bottle.
Jun 23, 2023
Photo of Taybeh
Reviewed by Taybeh from Minnesota

4.48/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
From a month-old 510 ml bottle, into a willibecher. Looks amazing: dull slightly cloudy gold, lots of bubbles, perfect tight bubbles and two finger head, great retention, great lacing. Nose is slightly underripe blueberries, a little flowery citrus, woody/leafy sweet herbal notes. The taste follows the nose exactly. Mouthful is full but not at all heavy, and very smooth, almost creamy but still a pleasant bitter liveliness. Not an attention grabber, but subtle and awesome.

I love Simcoe, and this beer brings out some of its dimensions and complexity in a fantastic way. This is a thing of beauty.
Jun 10, 2023
 
Rated: 4.75 by bowmanad3

May 30, 2023
Photo of ivanbrew
Rated by ivanbrew

5/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I try this beer from a bottle pours really light smells really hoppy lots of carbonation definitely a perfect Pale ale
May 23, 2023
Photo of Holderness
Reviewed by Holderness from Massachusetts

4.16/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bottled 6 weeks ago. Very solid expression of Simcoe and one of the most well-rounded low ABV beers I've had recently. Clean, leafy, bit of pine and citrus, and super refreshing.

84/100
May 20, 2023
 
Rated: 4.28 by bschmidt_37 from Illinois

May 10, 2023
 
Rated: 4.24 by cswhitehorse from California

Apr 29, 2023
Row 2/Hill 56 from Russian River Brewing Company
Beer rating: 95 out of 100 with 1324 ratings