Golden Trout - Kern River Brewing Company

soughtbygod

California

3.85/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had this beer on tap up at the brewery it is not the just outstanding IPA, however it is a great bready IPA.

It pours a clear dark orange with a white head, the foam doesnt have much retention.

the aromas that come off of the glass are rather faint, but they include malt and wheat, and almost kind of a musty smell.

The taste is super smooth you get some of the bread flavor in the beer, but the hops pull forward and balance it out well, I believe they used galaxy hops in this one.

mouthfeel is light, dangerously smooth for over 6% ABV

Overall i think this beer is a winner, keep em coming kern river.

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2011 00:10:50 | More by soughtbygod

tbone1384

Wyoming

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

11-03-2012 13:58:22 | More by tbone1384

billshmeinke

California

4.05/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Kern River Golden Trout. On-tap at Blue Palms for Kern River's L.A. Beer Week meet the brewer event. Brewed with Australian galaxy hops.

Medium dark golden hue. Fairly clear. About a finger of head. Lacing and retention are excellent.

The nose is surprisingly...weak. A bit of bread and cereal. Vague citrus notes. Not impressed with this aspect.

Taste has a hearty, bready malt character up front. It also has a cereal, almost oatmeal like presence as well. For the first few sips these are the only flavors, besides some hoppy bitterness, that I can pick up. However, as the contents of my glass dwindle, wonderful bright citrus and stone fruits become apparent on the finish, and about a quarter of the way through the glass it has become the bold dry hoppy kinda pale ale I was expecting from Kern River with some Galaxy hops at their disposal.

Creamy, medium bodied yet hefty, nice acidity helps cut through the hearty malt presence.

Despite a somewhat disappointing nose on this (simply because it hardly smells like anything), the flavor and mouthfeel are super kick ass. Wonderful complex malts washed away by a deluge of citrus and stone fruit goodness.

The malt and hop presence are both huge, yet shockingly well balanced.

Serving type: on-tap

10-20-2011 03:39:16 | More by billshmeinke