Russell IP'eh! - Russell Brewing Company

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From a 650 ml brown bottle. Pours out a slightly hazed ruddy amber hue, creamy off-white head that settles to a thick head that retains.

Mild caramel and toasty malt on the nose, some sweet orange and grapefruit, some dry earthy pine.

Toasty malt up front in the flavour with a hint of sweet caramel, followed by earthy, spicy hops, while finishing with some citrusy grapefruit hops, with an aftertaste of dry grapefruit pith that lingers.

Mouthfeel tends towards the lighter end of medium-bodied, soft texture punctuated by pin-pricks of an assertive carbonation.

An okay IPA, no flaws with it, yet it doesn't stand out regarding the style either. Still a good drink from this one, I have no regrets, however I'm not overly inspired to pick up more in light of other options available at the moment. Noteworthy for being nicely balanced for the style, although the malt never does quite get a leg up over the hops at any time.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 10:23:19 | More by IronDjinn

MylesMac

Manitoba (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

04-27-2013 01:19:46 | More by MylesMac

cfalovo97

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -18.5%

01-09-2013 01:27:45 | More by cfalovo97

NWer

Washington

2.65/5  rDev -28%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured into standard pint glass from bottle.
Poured flat. No head, nice enough bronze color.
Nose sweet. Almonds. Where are the hops?
Taste. Where are the hops? Totally malt forward. Sweet. Flat.
Very disappointing.
Next time I bring back beer from Canada I'll double up on Red Racer and pass on this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 23:13:28 | More by NWer

KalanM

British Columbia (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

11-29-2012 05:10:30 | More by KalanM

smakawhat

Maryland

3.58/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the bottle into a tulip pint glass.

A solid amber orange color body, with a nice sticky off white head, three fingers deep, and lots of clumpy retention. Some real nice clumpy lacing also.

Nose is a mix of dough malts and bread, but a nice mellow hop front, slightly sweet, quite airy. Subdued and subtle. Faint hints of chocolate malt like senses and caramel.

Palate is malt forward. Sense of solid body and chocolate milk tastes. Hop angle comes with lots of milky sweetness in the finish. Lots of good body in this, with a very good lingering tight and sweet hop presence on the aftertaste. Kind of a mix of malt rich and faint hop presence.

Overall a real interesting take, but for an IPA it's kind of buried, even for English style. A great solid milky malt backbone on this though really delivers. Drinkable, would drink this again easily. Good brew.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 01:29:07 | More by smakawhat

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

From BeerAdvocate magazine Issue #60 (Jan 2012):

LOOK: Brassy amber, excellent lacing

SMELL: Hay, citric rind, tobacco, birch sap, caramel, biscuity

TASTE: Smooth, creamy, medium body, toasted biscuits, hop bitterness, orange pith, faint grapefruit, dried grass, rustic bread, evergreen, pipe tobacco

Brewer's intention here is a well-balanced English-style IPA, but generously hopped with PNW Cascade. Go figure. Even amidst the slight identity crisis, we've got a kickass IPA in front of us—balanced, yet still delivers that hop fix we long for in any true IPA.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 18:58:28 | More by BeerAdvocate

likeemdark

California

3/5  rDev -18.5%

08-26-2012 17:16:10 | More by likeemdark

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a nice dark copper colour, finger of head with solid retention and some sporadic lacing.

S - Nice musty caramel, citrus hops and a touch of leafy greens.

T - The musty caramel and burnt sugar comes through nicely alongside a solid dose of citrus hops, solid bitterness profile and a resiny flavor lingers on the finish.

M - Medium, smooth and surprisingly wet.

O - A tasty IPA that reflects the English side with a solid hop profile to please all critics. Glad to have had this brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2012 22:14:58 | More by andrenaline

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - clear dark copper, two fingers of tan head retained very well, and big props for the classic 'Canada Cup' logo on the bottle
S - peppery and citrus along with big caramel, mild grain and leafs
T - big peppery hops, some mild pine and citrus, big caramel malty balance
M - heavier than medium, milder carbonation, a building bitterness through the finish
O - big flavours but very balanced for an IPA, tasty and worth a try, i'd like to see more from this brewer in Alberta

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 01:56:03 | More by joemcgrath27

rodrigueZflyingf0x

British Columbia (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

07-29-2012 04:36:53 | More by rodrigueZflyingf0x

prisdefer

New York

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

07-24-2012 03:58:38 | More by prisdefer

Coastal_Brew

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev +8.7%

07-15-2012 15:38:20 | More by Coastal_Brew

bumchilly25

British Columbia (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

05-13-2012 19:07:33 | More by bumchilly25

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

3.65/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Numerous pints at Electric Owl in Vancouver. From notes

A - Slight haze in a dark golden colour, two fingers of beige head, mild carbonation, nice thick rings of lace with one finger of retention.

S - Citrus, pine, bread.

T - Citrus, pine, bread, prickly pinapple.

M - Great carbonation, medium body, light bitterness.

O/D - A good easy drinking IPA. Very basic but solid. Keeps attention for more than one pint.

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2012 17:54:21 | More by tbeckett

schopenhauerale

British Columbia (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

01-19-2012 06:48:32 | More by schopenhauerale

WoodersonMB

Manitoba (Canada)

4/5  rDev +8.7%

12-23-2011 22:50:12 | More by WoodersonMB

EskimoDave

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev +8.7%

12-01-2011 06:29:33 | More by EskimoDave

chickenm

British Columbia (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

11-20-2011 19:58:07 | More by chickenm

kjyost

Manitoba (Canada)

3.4/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

650 mL bottle purchased at the MLCC for $6.5. Fairly fresh, poured at 4C into a Sam Adams perfect pint.

A: Clear, copper, small head with light lacing.
S: Bready malts with a hint of sweetness dominated by hop aromas of grapefruit and other citrus.
T/M: Lacking here as the beer has no distinctive body (which IMO is not a negative in an IPA), with an earthy and citrus hop flavour that is a little too much in the background. The bitterness is low and takes a while to build on the palate. Nice crisp carbonation help save the day a bit on the mouthfeel front.
O: Not an IPA I would reach for over the other local offering, and in hind sight the IBUs are a little low for the ABV (53 : 6.5%)

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2011 23:58:39 | More by kjyost

marty21

Manitoba (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a clear copper orange colour with 1 finger worth of off white creamy head. Settles to a ring around the glass and a little island in the middle.

S: Not the strongest of aromas but you get some light hops as well as caramel and earthy scents. A tiny bit of citrus on the finish as well.

T: Hops upfront with caramel and earthy tastes. A bit of a lingering bitterness but not too much.

M: Medium carbonation with a light body.

O: I love the name and painted Canadian label on this beer. As for the actual beer itself it wasn’t too bad. I would of liked more hops in it but I’d drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2011 16:49:44 | More by marty21

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: 3/8" tan coloured head that dissipated quickly over a dark amber liquid with excellent clarity.

S: Faint smell of floral hops and malt.

T: Floral hops up front which transitions to a caramel malt finish that is somewhat nutty.

M: Medium to thin viscosity with a medium level of fine carbonation.

O: Interesting IPA with its floral hop profile and English malt.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2011 05:15:16 | More by DaftCaskBC

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance. Nice deep and clear amber. One finger head that lasts a minute and leaves some nice lacing.

Smell. Hops, citrus fruits and some caramel malt. Pretty nice.

Taste. Bitter hops with a stronger malt presence than expected. Bitter finish saves this otherwise lackluster, almost British style IPA.

Mouthfeel. A little thin, but nice smooth carbonation.

Drinkability. A decent drinker. I wouldn't refuse another.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2011 04:29:56 | More by Rutager

ericj551

British Columbia (Canada)

3.35/5  rDev -9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Russell's IP'eh pours a bright ruby red with a fluffy head that lingers nicely. The aroma grapefruity and slightly piney hops, with some rich caramel. The hop aroma seems kind of flat. More mild grapefruit and earthy hops in the flavor, with some nutty, toasted malt with a bit of sweetness. The sweetness is followed by a solid resiny bitterness, which lingers nicely. Overall not a bad IPA, although it doesn't stand up to the Red Racer IPA I'm drinking with it.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2011 03:56:16 | More by ericj551

Hornet2003

British Columbia (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Almost pours an amber ale red. Little head. Slightly cloudy.

Smell: Grassy. English style hop forward aroma. Some bready malts as well. Seems a touch more to the English interpretation of IPA...

Taste: Quite similar to the smell. Much maltier than other west coast hop bombs. That malt is definitely backing up some aggressive hopping. But again, more grassy, grainy, green hop flavours.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, and well carbonated.

Drinkability: I'd be happy just having the one.

Overall: Nice attempt by Russell and I have a feeling this beer will eventually become more influenced by the American hops that are finding their way into more breweries IPA's here in BC. It's a nice hoppy beer, just not quite as expected for an "American IPA".

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2010 21:32:25 | More by Hornet2003