RnD IPA #94
Russian River Brewing Company

510 ml Bottle
BOTTLED ON: 030426

Poured into a Tree House 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.

Clear, golden pour and body; dense, slow-rising carbonation; thick head, white and densely sudsy, gentle sculpted cap; thick, sticky partial rings and strings of foam inside the glass. Softly pungent nose; grassy with green dried herbs; mild tropical fruit esters. Incredibly balanced taste, loaded with complexity; low-key mild cereal grain and light malt backbone; light zesty and gentle peppery hop bitterness and taste; fine herbal lingering into the finish. Medium body featuring a mild abrasiveness to the palate; soft with a gentle dryness throughout.

This is just an amazing India pale ale. Russian River Brewing Co. have outdone themselves with this experimental IPA. One can only hope that the brewers also consider this one of their finest efforts and bring this one back into regular rotation at some point. While not a double IPA per se, in my opinion, this rivals their Pliny for President / DDH Pliny the Elder offerings.

ABV: 6.5%; pouring temperature: 46.3 °F; bottling info: 031026
Source: local purchase (Lots A Liquor)

17.25 oz bottle marked 3/4/26 poured into a tulip pint glass.

On-draught @ Bottlecraft Little Italy, San Diego.

Piney, coating. Hop oils. Floral hop flavour.

Balanced and enjoyable, with an assertive hop profile and sufficient hop intensity without being loud, gimmicky, or a chore to drink.

B / GOOD

 

Bottle pour - crystal clear pale golden straw color, thick foamy white head, frosty lacing. Nose is piney with resin and grassy floral hop notes. Taste follows although not as predominantly. Finish is crisp with a lingering mild bitterness. Tasty!

 

Poured into a Seattle Beer Week glass. Pours a light to medium golden amber with a two finger white head with great retention and chunky lacing. Aroma of pale malt, citrus, tropical fruit and resinous hops, yuzu, ripe tropical fruit and pine resin; spicy. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess. Lots of herbal hop flavors in this fresh tasting IPA. A rather busy hop bill that spans the spectrum from citrus, tropical fruit through some dankness and a resinous quality that doesn't have much distinct pine aroma. Hard to parse, but interesting and flavorful. The most distinct flavors are yuzu, orange, mango and resinous dankness. Another "West Coast" IPA that incorporates the tropical fruit character of Southern Hemisphere hops with the traditional citrus and pine of the original style. Fairly balanced between the two, leaning to fruit notes. Like most Russian River offerings, the hops are fresh tasting and aromatic. Nicely done.

Picked up a 510 ml bottle at the Windsor facility cooler on 3-9-36 for $5.99. Bottled 3-4-26; consumed 3-10-26.

Beer poured pale gold with a very nice long lasting white head.

Nose is vibrant citrus, floral, and tropical fruits.

Taste is a lighter pale malt base in which i get a dose of grapefruit and orange up front, a light touch of gooseberry. Finishes with a nice pine bitterness; 7/10 on my scale. Getting peach in post sip aspirations.

Mouthfeel is super soft for the AIPA style with each sip being very refreshing.

Overall, this was a very good representation of the style. Glad i was able to get into a batch of the RnD Series!