Rudie Session IPA | Ska Brewing Co.
Brewed by:
Ska Brewing Co.
Colorado, United States
skabrewing.com
Style: American IPA
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.50%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
Rudie is the first new mainstay to be added to Ska’s portfolio since the death of Ten Pin Porter (RIP). The beer weighs in at 4.5% alcohol by volume and is brewed with El Dorado and Galaxy Hops in quantities more typical of an American IPA than a session beer.
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Reviews: 27
| Ratings: 171
3.52/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
L - light Amber not much head
S - initially wet cut grass that faded quickly
T - Citrus early then slight malty background
F - a little gritty
O - ok for a hot day when you are thirsty due to easy drinking and citrus notes.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
L - light Amber not much head
S - initially wet cut grass that faded quickly
T - Citrus early then slight malty background
F - a little gritty
O - ok for a hot day when you are thirsty due to easy drinking and citrus notes.
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4.1/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.25
Clear amber colour, with faint aromas of sweet white grape and a ltitle bit of malt and cI trust hops. Tastes well carbonated with a solid malt body throughout. Light and fruity, again with a nice orange peel and cirus hop finish.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.25
Clear amber colour, with faint aromas of sweet white grape and a ltitle bit of malt and cI trust hops. Tastes well carbonated with a solid malt body throughout. Light and fruity, again with a nice orange peel and cirus hop finish.
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3.67/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
The colour is pale gold (6 EBC), the liquid is clear. The two finger white airy head sinks down to a thin lid leaving no lacing.
New world hops dominates the smell. Grape fruit, lemon juice, lime peel. Hints of mango and pineapple. Some dough, tomato and green bananas in the background.
The taste is bitter and refreshing. Exotic fruits (mango, pineapple), grapefruit peel, bitter orange juice and a slight touch of rubber. Mild clean sweetness in the background. Medium to light body. The aftertaste is less bitter and fruity with a good balance between the floral/citric hops and the candy sweetness. The finish got notes of exotic fruits and wheat flour.
Lots of small smooth fresh long-lived bubbles; the liquid is semi-smooth.
A clean and highly drinkable session-IPA. Not the vulgar over-the-top bitterness as BrewDog Dead Pony Club got, but not really as entertaining either.
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look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
The colour is pale gold (6 EBC), the liquid is clear. The two finger white airy head sinks down to a thin lid leaving no lacing.
New world hops dominates the smell. Grape fruit, lemon juice, lime peel. Hints of mango and pineapple. Some dough, tomato and green bananas in the background.
The taste is bitter and refreshing. Exotic fruits (mango, pineapple), grapefruit peel, bitter orange juice and a slight touch of rubber. Mild clean sweetness in the background. Medium to light body. The aftertaste is less bitter and fruity with a good balance between the floral/citric hops and the candy sweetness. The finish got notes of exotic fruits and wheat flour.
Lots of small smooth fresh long-lived bubbles; the liquid is semi-smooth.
A clean and highly drinkable session-IPA. Not the vulgar over-the-top bitterness as BrewDog Dead Pony Club got, but not really as entertaining either.
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3.89/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A: Pours a very lightly hazy pale honey gold in color with moderate amounts of active visible carbonation and a faint amount of straw yellow highlights. The beer has a two finger tall foamy light tan head that slowly reduces to a medium sized finger thick cap in the center of the glass with a small patch of thin film and a medium thick ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate to significant amounts of lacing are observed.
S: Moderate aromas of citrus/grapefruit, citrus/grapefruit zest, and herbal hops over the top of very light aromas of grainy malts.
T: Upfront there is a light to moderate flavor of slightly sweet grainy malts. That is followed by moderate flavors of citrus/grapefruit, citrus/grapefruit zest, and herbal hops which imparts a light to moderate amount of bitterness which fades away fairly quickly.
M: Light bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Light but not thin or watery.
O: Easy to drink, sessionable, and enjoyable. Nice that even though there is a light mouthfeel it is not thin or watery.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A: Pours a very lightly hazy pale honey gold in color with moderate amounts of active visible carbonation and a faint amount of straw yellow highlights. The beer has a two finger tall foamy light tan head that slowly reduces to a medium sized finger thick cap in the center of the glass with a small patch of thin film and a medium thick ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate to significant amounts of lacing are observed.
S: Moderate aromas of citrus/grapefruit, citrus/grapefruit zest, and herbal hops over the top of very light aromas of grainy malts.
T: Upfront there is a light to moderate flavor of slightly sweet grainy malts. That is followed by moderate flavors of citrus/grapefruit, citrus/grapefruit zest, and herbal hops which imparts a light to moderate amount of bitterness which fades away fairly quickly.
M: Light bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Light but not thin or watery.
O: Easy to drink, sessionable, and enjoyable. Nice that even though there is a light mouthfeel it is not thin or watery.
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3.54/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Attractive amber color with adequate foam in the big Tripel Karmeliet tulip. So leafy and herbal tasting. Surprisingly mellow with a distinct malty flavor. Salty with just an edge of bitterness at first, though it grows in the aftertaste. Interesting green vegetable aroma with some resiny notes.
Happy to try a more drinkable variety of "session" IPA. From the 12 oz can purchased at Bottlecraft in San Diego.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Attractive amber color with adequate foam in the big Tripel Karmeliet tulip. So leafy and herbal tasting. Surprisingly mellow with a distinct malty flavor. Salty with just an edge of bitterness at first, though it grows in the aftertaste. Interesting green vegetable aroma with some resiny notes.
Happy to try a more drinkable variety of "session" IPA. From the 12 oz can purchased at Bottlecraft in San Diego.
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4.65/5 rDev +22.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Most session IPAs leave something to be desired, and usually it's malt backbone. This delivers a surprising balance, with a hint of caramel, a burst of tropical hops, and a clean finish. Very enjoyable.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Most session IPAs leave something to be desired, and usually it's malt backbone. This delivers a surprising balance, with a hint of caramel, a burst of tropical hops, and a clean finish. Very enjoyable.
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4.04/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Canned
So it's got a lemon jelly body with tiny bubbled white head that goes to surface flat but keeps all off the surface covered
The aroma is lemon & freshly swan pine wood
The flavour has a light pine citrus that has a nice crisp clean bitterness that follows
The mouthfeel & the beer is easy drinking
it's everything you want in a session IPA you could drink this all night
now all need is to want a session IPA
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Canned
So it's got a lemon jelly body with tiny bubbled white head that goes to surface flat but keeps all off the surface covered
The aroma is lemon & freshly swan pine wood
The flavour has a light pine citrus that has a nice crisp clean bitterness that follows
The mouthfeel & the beer is easy drinking
it's everything you want in a session IPA you could drink this all night
now all need is to want a session IPA
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3.69/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured from a can with a best by date of 11/24/15; into a pint glass.
Apperance - foggy gold, with nice sediment and a few streams of bubbles; medium white head that erodes to a thin layer, but leaves gobs of sticky lacing.
Smell - faint mango and pineapple, a little orange and some grass and pine!
Taste - hop forward to start, but the flavor fades too quick. A bit too watery and light, even for a session.
Feel - easy drinking, but lacks substance in the flavor department. Certainly an IPA as this has a lingering bitterness.
Overall - I will definitely enjoy the sixer of this I purchased, but this one lacks the juicy flavor that I think holds it back.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured from a can with a best by date of 11/24/15; into a pint glass.
Apperance - foggy gold, with nice sediment and a few streams of bubbles; medium white head that erodes to a thin layer, but leaves gobs of sticky lacing.
Smell - faint mango and pineapple, a little orange and some grass and pine!
Taste - hop forward to start, but the flavor fades too quick. A bit too watery and light, even for a session.
Feel - easy drinking, but lacks substance in the flavor department. Certainly an IPA as this has a lingering bitterness.
Overall - I will definitely enjoy the sixer of this I purchased, but this one lacks the juicy flavor that I think holds it back.
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3.24/5 rDev -14.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Poured into a Creature Comforts nonic pint. Bottom of can says BBY Sep 29 15.
A- Pours a medium camber color with a 1/2 inch off-white head that retains well before becoming a thick ring around the edge of the glass and a full sheet of surface foam. Semi-resilient lacing leaves small clots behind.
S- Moderate hop presence with a cereal grain malt sweetness similar to that of Modus.
T- Neutred flavor of hops and some sweet malt. Watery. Easy to drink but not a lot of taste to speak of.
M- Slight bite from the hops with medium carbonation and a light body.
O- I don't know why I keep bothering with these pathetic excuses for beer that are session IPAs. Just totally lacking in any sort of enjoyable flavor or mouthfeel. Sometimes they drive home a nice aroma from dry-hopping, but not this one. Good thing I got this one on clearance for $0.69.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Poured into a Creature Comforts nonic pint. Bottom of can says BBY Sep 29 15.
A- Pours a medium camber color with a 1/2 inch off-white head that retains well before becoming a thick ring around the edge of the glass and a full sheet of surface foam. Semi-resilient lacing leaves small clots behind.
S- Moderate hop presence with a cereal grain malt sweetness similar to that of Modus.
T- Neutred flavor of hops and some sweet malt. Watery. Easy to drink but not a lot of taste to speak of.
M- Slight bite from the hops with medium carbonation and a light body.
O- I don't know why I keep bothering with these pathetic excuses for beer that are session IPAs. Just totally lacking in any sort of enjoyable flavor or mouthfeel. Sometimes they drive home a nice aroma from dry-hopping, but not this one. Good thing I got this one on clearance for $0.69.
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2.69/5 rDev -29.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.75
I am home for the weekend and not only am I winnowing down the backlog, but I am giving priority to The CANQuest (tm), which has been given short shrift and overlooked for too long. CANs, CANs and more CANs!
From the CAN: "Quaff - Recycle - Magnificent - Unity - Recycle - Moxee - Message - Recycle - 19 Bus - Galaxy - Recycle"; "Lip Up Fatty"; "We use the finest Water, Hops, Yeast, Malted Barley".
I was feeling kind of rude and reckless, so it was time to Crack! this CAN open. I was feeling some resistance from the vent, so I pointed it away from me and the keyboard and proceeded. Pfssshhh! I love it when they try to catch me off guard and so I retaliated with an inverted Glug until the foaming action became too much to handle. Following the formation of two fingers of foamy, rocky, bone-white head which fell fairly quickly, I was left with a bit of lacing. Color was Yellow-Gold (SRM = 4 - 5) with NE-quality clarity, causing the Gelt Guild (Midas, Croesus and Mammon) to show up for a taste. Nose smelled heavily of grapefruit rind. Mouthfeel was thin and watery. Taste was decent with a grapefruit rind bite, but nothing like the nose. I am sorry, but this "Session IPA" business bores me and leaves me cold as a general rule. It should have its own style because when stacked up against an full-on AIPA, it is going to be found lacking. Where is the Ooomph!? Where is the flavor?!? Finish was semi-dry, but I could have had a B/M/C Lite and gotten about as much out of it. As long as this is classified as an AIPA, I am going to take a pass.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.75
I am home for the weekend and not only am I winnowing down the backlog, but I am giving priority to The CANQuest (tm), which has been given short shrift and overlooked for too long. CANs, CANs and more CANs!
From the CAN: "Quaff - Recycle - Magnificent - Unity - Recycle - Moxee - Message - Recycle - 19 Bus - Galaxy - Recycle"; "Lip Up Fatty"; "We use the finest Water, Hops, Yeast, Malted Barley".
I was feeling kind of rude and reckless, so it was time to Crack! this CAN open. I was feeling some resistance from the vent, so I pointed it away from me and the keyboard and proceeded. Pfssshhh! I love it when they try to catch me off guard and so I retaliated with an inverted Glug until the foaming action became too much to handle. Following the formation of two fingers of foamy, rocky, bone-white head which fell fairly quickly, I was left with a bit of lacing. Color was Yellow-Gold (SRM = 4 - 5) with NE-quality clarity, causing the Gelt Guild (Midas, Croesus and Mammon) to show up for a taste. Nose smelled heavily of grapefruit rind. Mouthfeel was thin and watery. Taste was decent with a grapefruit rind bite, but nothing like the nose. I am sorry, but this "Session IPA" business bores me and leaves me cold as a general rule. It should have its own style because when stacked up against an full-on AIPA, it is going to be found lacking. Where is the Ooomph!? Where is the flavor?!? Finish was semi-dry, but I could have had a B/M/C Lite and gotten about as much out of it. As long as this is classified as an AIPA, I am going to take a pass.
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4.05/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Hazy golden sunshine with sticky crusty off white froth. 4.25
Herbal, resiny, lemon Italian ice nose. 4.25
Oyster crackers then Limoncello, leaf, and skunk hops. 4
Lemon balm finish and peppery, numbing linger.
Oily, light, crisp, fizzy, a bit watery. 3.75
El Dorado and Galaxy
Hop dose is for real - both aroma and beyond-expectations IBUs. Shame that no US brewer can figure out how to do body sub-5%. But Ska’s way with hops sees them through; this is probably 3rd behind All Day and Daytime. Very crushable. 4
Subsequent tastings revealed some grilled pineapple notes.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Hazy golden sunshine with sticky crusty off white froth. 4.25
Herbal, resiny, lemon Italian ice nose. 4.25
Oyster crackers then Limoncello, leaf, and skunk hops. 4
Lemon balm finish and peppery, numbing linger.
Oily, light, crisp, fizzy, a bit watery. 3.75
El Dorado and Galaxy
Hop dose is for real - both aroma and beyond-expectations IBUs. Shame that no US brewer can figure out how to do body sub-5%. But Ska’s way with hops sees them through; this is probably 3rd behind All Day and Daytime. Very crushable. 4
Subsequent tastings revealed some grilled pineapple notes.
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3.67/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
355ml can at home from Good Spirits Co, Glasgow (£2.50):
Another pretty good beer from SKA brewing, not quite as good as the previous two efforts from them that I've tried but still highly drinkable with plenty of hops. I feared the worst after being disappointed by the aroma but things picked up with he taste coming through stronger. I'm not sure it's a beer I'd go back to often but it was an enjoyable offering & one of the better session IPA's I've tried.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
355ml can at home from Good Spirits Co, Glasgow (£2.50):
Another pretty good beer from SKA brewing, not quite as good as the previous two efforts from them that I've tried but still highly drinkable with plenty of hops. I feared the worst after being disappointed by the aroma but things picked up with he taste coming through stronger. I'm not sure it's a beer I'd go back to often but it was an enjoyable offering & one of the better session IPA's I've tried.
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3.97/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Very nice session IPA; probably the best I've had, in that it actually has a bit of a hoppy IPA taste. Nice level of carbonation, good mouth feel. Good nose on it; doesn't really feel like a "session" beer at all.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Very nice session IPA; probably the best I've had, in that it actually has a bit of a hoppy IPA taste. Nice level of carbonation, good mouth feel. Good nose on it; doesn't really feel like a "session" beer at all.
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3.93/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12oz can poured into a pint glass
A- pours a cloudy golden orange color with a two-finger white head that retains nicely, eventually leaving some lacing behind
S- fruity hop aroma with notes of citrus, mango & melon, very fruit forward
T- fruity tropical hop flavor up front with notes of mango, melon & passionfruit. Underlying crisp toasted malt allows the subtle hops to take the forefront
M- medium body and carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel and a crisp finish
O- lots of fruity hop flavors for a session IPA, very drinkable and still packs enough flavor for an IPA, well done!
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look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12oz can poured into a pint glass
A- pours a cloudy golden orange color with a two-finger white head that retains nicely, eventually leaving some lacing behind
S- fruity hop aroma with notes of citrus, mango & melon, very fruit forward
T- fruity tropical hop flavor up front with notes of mango, melon & passionfruit. Underlying crisp toasted malt allows the subtle hops to take the forefront
M- medium body and carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel and a crisp finish
O- lots of fruity hop flavors for a session IPA, very drinkable and still packs enough flavor for an IPA, well done!
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3.81/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
BBD of 03 Mar 15, not superfresh, but this will be my placeholder...
Pours golden/bronze with 3+ fingers of rocky ivory colored head. Very nice head retention & lacing
S: Pineapple, breadyness, & lemons
T: Grassyness, slight lemongrass flavor, faint grainyness up front. Pineapple, a little grapefruit, some dryness & more lemongrass as this warms. Finishes crisp, with pineapple, grapefruit & slight crackery notes
Drinks very easy, could pound this in the summer, but I prefer a little more heft this time of year. Would certainly buy again, just might hold out for fresher...
MF: Light bodied, fairly firm carbonation, great balance
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look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
BBD of 03 Mar 15, not superfresh, but this will be my placeholder...
Pours golden/bronze with 3+ fingers of rocky ivory colored head. Very nice head retention & lacing
S: Pineapple, breadyness, & lemons
T: Grassyness, slight lemongrass flavor, faint grainyness up front. Pineapple, a little grapefruit, some dryness & more lemongrass as this warms. Finishes crisp, with pineapple, grapefruit & slight crackery notes
Drinks very easy, could pound this in the summer, but I prefer a little more heft this time of year. Would certainly buy again, just might hold out for fresher...
MF: Light bodied, fairly firm carbonation, great balance
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3.98/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
The Rudie is goodie! The beer poured a orangish color with white head that is leaving a lace. The scent is citric hops. The taste carries citrus and slight pine with a bitter finish. The muthfeel is lighter in body. Overall this is a good beer.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
The Rudie is goodie! The beer poured a orangish color with white head that is leaving a lace. The scent is citric hops. The taste carries citrus and slight pine with a bitter finish. The muthfeel is lighter in body. Overall this is a good beer.
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3.8/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12oz can. Poured a clear, golden orange color with very little head. It smelled of citrus, caramel and pine. Sweet citrus and caramel taste with a good bitter bite.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12oz can. Poured a clear, golden orange color with very little head. It smelled of citrus, caramel and pine. Sweet citrus and caramel taste with a good bitter bite.
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3.71/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Served from a can in an Ohio State shaker pint glass.
I haven't had this yet, but it's still likely better than that damn Notre Dame movie... Anyway, this stuff pours a clear sunrise brass topped by a finger of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises grass, mild pine, grapefruit zest, and a hint of biscuit. The taste brings in more of the same, the grass and pine taking full control of the hops, though without going overboard in their expression. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a drying finish. Overall, a solid little IPA, nothing truly special, but a tasty, relatively low-ABV hop fix.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Served from a can in an Ohio State shaker pint glass.
I haven't had this yet, but it's still likely better than that damn Notre Dame movie... Anyway, this stuff pours a clear sunrise brass topped by a finger of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises grass, mild pine, grapefruit zest, and a hint of biscuit. The taste brings in more of the same, the grass and pine taking full control of the hops, though without going overboard in their expression. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a drying finish. Overall, a solid little IPA, nothing truly special, but a tasty, relatively low-ABV hop fix.
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4.01/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured into an IPA glass.
Look: An almost crystal clear golden colored body under a white foamy head. A massive array of lacing leaves the glass looking sprayed with foam.
Aroma: Cedar, pine, apricot.
Taste: A piny, bitter start with some lingering grapefruit. The finish offers a touch of apricot and cedar.
Mouthfeel: Pretty light.
Overall: A very nice beer, lots of flavor with a low ABV.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured into an IPA glass.
Look: An almost crystal clear golden colored body under a white foamy head. A massive array of lacing leaves the glass looking sprayed with foam.
Aroma: Cedar, pine, apricot.
Taste: A piny, bitter start with some lingering grapefruit. The finish offers a touch of apricot and cedar.
Mouthfeel: Pretty light.
Overall: A very nice beer, lots of flavor with a low ABV.
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4.05/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
12 fl oz. can, with best by date of December 12, 2014 printed on the bottom of the can. Yet another new session IPA, this one from Ska Brewing, acquired as part of a mixed six pack at the local Binny's. Expectations are average given the brewery.
Poured into a Lagunitas mason jar.
A - Pours a light cloudy golden orange with two and a half finger of doughy frothy off-white head. Appears well carbonated with lots of nice fine sediment floating in the glass. Leaves behind some good thin lacing. Looks very nice.
S - The aroma is very pleasant - lightly fruity, piney, and tropical. Fresh & floral, with some light honeyed bready malt in the background.
T - The taste comes much better than I had expected. Piney, floral, and fruity. Lightly herbal pine, grapefruit, orange, tangerine, mango, and some honeyed bready malts. Very flavorful and balanced, especially for the low 4.50% abv.
M - The feel is crisp, clean, and easy-drinking. Mildly bitter / resinous with lingering grapefruit rind flavors.
Overall, an impressive and flavorful packed session IPA from Ska Brewing Co., you guys have impressed me. Definitely a session IPA I would go to again.
Ska Brewing Rudie Session IPA -----4/5.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
12 fl oz. can, with best by date of December 12, 2014 printed on the bottom of the can. Yet another new session IPA, this one from Ska Brewing, acquired as part of a mixed six pack at the local Binny's. Expectations are average given the brewery.
Poured into a Lagunitas mason jar.
A - Pours a light cloudy golden orange with two and a half finger of doughy frothy off-white head. Appears well carbonated with lots of nice fine sediment floating in the glass. Leaves behind some good thin lacing. Looks very nice.
S - The aroma is very pleasant - lightly fruity, piney, and tropical. Fresh & floral, with some light honeyed bready malt in the background.
T - The taste comes much better than I had expected. Piney, floral, and fruity. Lightly herbal pine, grapefruit, orange, tangerine, mango, and some honeyed bready malts. Very flavorful and balanced, especially for the low 4.50% abv.
M - The feel is crisp, clean, and easy-drinking. Mildly bitter / resinous with lingering grapefruit rind flavors.
Overall, an impressive and flavorful packed session IPA from Ska Brewing Co., you guys have impressed me. Definitely a session IPA I would go to again.
Ska Brewing Rudie Session IPA -----4/5.
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4.5/5 rDev +18.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
nice gold color, thin creamy head on top, slow carbonation rising to the top.
smells nice, light hops; taste is the same. light hops, light bitterness. nice taste. low abv. super easy to drink. very nice.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
nice gold color, thin creamy head on top, slow carbonation rising to the top.
smells nice, light hops; taste is the same. light hops, light bitterness. nice taste. low abv. super easy to drink. very nice.
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4/5 rDev +5.3%
This is along the lines of other session IPA's. It was on the expensive side for what you get. Especially in the alcohol department. But of course that is what you are looking for with a session IPA, low alcohol. The smell, taste and pretty much everything about this beer reminded me of Stone's Go To, which I thought was good, but had lacking qualities. Maybe in order to have a fully robust flavor profile you really do need the alcohol. Just, be careful and not drink too many of them.
Aroma: Hops, onion like aroma. Kind of skunky in that way. It really does not smell all that appealing especially once it warms up.
Taste: It tastes much better than it smells. Nice hoppy bitterness, not much in the malt department, a little of the onion thing going on, but not as bad as one would imagine. Its kind of hard to describe, but you really don't get the tropical or citrus fruit tastes you get in a full bodied IPA. That is where most session IPA's fall short in my opinion. Not that they are horrible beers, but they need to make them in a more reasonable price range. I guess it takes as much to make and market them as a 7% IPA, which makes them cost the same. Its an interesting trend, we will just have to see where it goes. Will we have them keep this price point while the bigger beers go more expensive or will these just fade away?
1,346 characters
This is along the lines of other session IPA's. It was on the expensive side for what you get. Especially in the alcohol department. But of course that is what you are looking for with a session IPA, low alcohol. The smell, taste and pretty much everything about this beer reminded me of Stone's Go To, which I thought was good, but had lacking qualities. Maybe in order to have a fully robust flavor profile you really do need the alcohol. Just, be careful and not drink too many of them.
Aroma: Hops, onion like aroma. Kind of skunky in that way. It really does not smell all that appealing especially once it warms up.
Taste: It tastes much better than it smells. Nice hoppy bitterness, not much in the malt department, a little of the onion thing going on, but not as bad as one would imagine. Its kind of hard to describe, but you really don't get the tropical or citrus fruit tastes you get in a full bodied IPA. That is where most session IPA's fall short in my opinion. Not that they are horrible beers, but they need to make them in a more reasonable price range. I guess it takes as much to make and market them as a 7% IPA, which makes them cost the same. Its an interesting trend, we will just have to see where it goes. Will we have them keep this price point while the bigger beers go more expensive or will these just fade away?
1,346 characters
3.57/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Best by 1/10/15.
Pours a clear honey gold with a foamy khaki head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, citrus fruit, citrus zest, and tropical fruit aromas. Taste is much the same with citrus zest and tropical fruit flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with a nice balance between citrus and tropical hop characteristics.
Serving type: can.
604 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Best by 1/10/15.
Pours a clear honey gold with a foamy khaki head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, citrus fruit, citrus zest, and tropical fruit aromas. Taste is much the same with citrus zest and tropical fruit flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with a nice balance between citrus and tropical hop characteristics.
Serving type: can.
604 characters
3.9/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a clear gold color topped with some wispy white cream and decent lacing. Smells of green hoppiness: leafy, grassy, lemon/lime freshness over some light malt. Flavor is light, smooth, and happy. Green and citrusy with a pine resin bitterness and cereal grain. Totally poundable crisp light body without coming across as watery to my palate. Not outrageously fruity or anything given the hop profile, just simple, tasty, and crushable.
443 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a clear gold color topped with some wispy white cream and decent lacing. Smells of green hoppiness: leafy, grassy, lemon/lime freshness over some light malt. Flavor is light, smooth, and happy. Green and citrusy with a pine resin bitterness and cereal grain. Totally poundable crisp light body without coming across as watery to my palate. Not outrageously fruity or anything given the hop profile, just simple, tasty, and crushable.
443 characters
3.77/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 4
12 oz can. Pours clear straw yellow with a medium pillowy white head that retains well and leaves some lacing.
The aroma is sweet fruity malts and piney, slightly dank, hops.
The flavor is sweet doughy malts with resiny piney hops and some fruit. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and fairly watery.
Overall, a nice hoppy session IPA. I like the hops, buts it's a bit watery.
378 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 4
12 oz can. Pours clear straw yellow with a medium pillowy white head that retains well and leaves some lacing.
The aroma is sweet fruity malts and piney, slightly dank, hops.
The flavor is sweet doughy malts with resiny piney hops and some fruit. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and fairly watery.
Overall, a nice hoppy session IPA. I like the hops, buts it's a bit watery.
378 characters
Rudie Session IPA from Ska Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
3.8 out of
5 with
171 ratings
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