Blind Pig IPA - Russian River Brewing Company

DrDoitchbig

Michigan

4.3/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle dated 4/16. Received as an extra, big thanks to SpdKilz for this one.

Appearance: Poured the color of natural honey with a slight haze to it. Sitting atop was a solid one and a half fingers of fizzy off-white head. It faded in to a thin layer before I could take my first sip, there was still enough to leave a couple small splotches of lacing down the glass. The head retention was definitely disappointing. The score here would have been even lower if the color wasn't so hypnotizing. It's strange, but in this light it almost looks like it's glowing.

Smell: This was the stand out category with this beer. As soon I popped the cap off I was hit with a strong blast of juicy grapefruit. It only intensified once I poured it into the glass. It's as if I just sliced open a nice, ripe grapefruit and jammed my nose directly into it. Behind that there are shades of pine and a hint of malt that manifests as sweet toffee.

Taste: After the wondrous aroma my expectations had certainly piqued. I have to say I was a bit let down here. The grapefruit is still here and it still has the same delicious fresh, juicy quality as the smell, it just happens to be toned down a couple notches. This allows more of the sweet malt to shine through. It's definitely a solid malt backbone. The resinous, flowery pine is also stronger and vies with the grapefruit for control of the hop character.

Mouthfeel: I'm experiencing a bit of a conundrum here. The body seems to be just a bit on the thin side for my liking. But at the same time it has a highly enjoyable stickiness and creaminess to it. If the body was just the slightest bit fuller this could have possibly been a perfect 5. But it's a major detractor for me.

Drinkability: If I wasn't reviewing this my glass would have been gone far too quickly, it's quite refreshing. It's definitely a very solid IPA. I could drink a few of them without my taste buds screaming for mercy from hop onslaught.

Overall I think this is a very, very good beer. However I've had better IPAs that are distributed locally. Two Hearted comes to mind immediately. But really I think this beer is it's own worst enemy. The smell was just absolutely bombastic. I like to take my time feeling out the aroma of a beer before taking a sip and I think that just set me up for a bit of a let down. Strange but true, at least for me.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2010 05:59:29 | More by DrDoitchbig

Lorihall1

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +8.9%

06-20-2013 01:58:35 | More by Lorihall1

Illusionist_Ryan

Texas

4.68/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Appearance: Poured into tulip, pours bright orange/amber with a 2 inch white head, very clear
Smell: Hints of honey, hops, piney and citrus
Taste: Sweet with not an overpowering of hops, subtle hints of honey and fruit.
Mouthfeel: Very light and thin, easy to drink.
Overall- Not a explosion of hops but they are there. The fact that this beer is so easy to drink is attributed to the sweet notes coming through the bitter. I prefer this over Pliny the Elder.

Serving type: bottle

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2013 23:07:45 | More by Illusionist_Ryan

JasonFromLA

California

4.75/5  rDev +8.9%

06-19-2013 06:46:29 | More by JasonFromLA

gtank

California

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

06-19-2013 05:47:31 | More by gtank

freduardo

Alabama

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%

06-19-2013 03:26:20 | More by freduardo

Greywulfken

New York

4.43/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: into a pint, solid gold beer, ivory head as big as you want it; messy head clings to sides of the glass, smearing foamy lace down the side

S: brilliant hop bouquet, suggesting grassy fields with flowers and toasted, crusty herbs - citric pith pops out atop the subtle malt aromas

T: juicy and ripe - more fruit than I expected, along with the continuation of the hop action on the nose - citrusy notes assert themselves throughout, and the subtly sweet malts underscore a fantastic beer

M: medium-light body, crisp and moderately carbonated, mellow slickness, bittering, but still wet, finish

O: this is exactly what I'd hoped for - Pliny's little cousin - a wet and juicy, hoppy, but not overpowering, and well-balanced beer.

Bottled 5/2/13

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2013 00:34:12 | More by Greywulfken

taylor714914

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -8.3%

06-18-2013 23:10:11 | More by taylor714914

Doctlow

Arizona

5/5  rDev +14.7%

06-18-2013 20:23:25 | More by Doctlow

b2611

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +8.9%

06-18-2013 14:31:54 | More by b2611

HopChef44

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +8.9%

06-18-2013 02:05:50 | More by HopChef44

drebrew

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

06-18-2013 01:05:27 | More by drebrew

jbravato

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

06-17-2013 00:17:22 | More by jbravato

Dirt

Ohio

4/5  rDev -8.3%

06-16-2013 22:07:04 | More by Dirt

bird22

California

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

06-16-2013 19:51:01 | More by bird22

mc4z

California

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%

06-16-2013 09:02:53 | More by mc4z

Mersh

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%

06-16-2013 02:46:02 | More by Mersh

anson42

California

4/5  rDev -8.3%

06-16-2013 01:28:02 | More by anson42

stogirelli

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +8.9%

06-16-2013 01:14:22 | More by stogirelli

EliotRosewater

California

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

06-15-2013 14:37:40 | More by EliotRosewater

CesarLopes

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

06-15-2013 02:45:26 | More by CesarLopes

IPAchris

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +14.7%

06-15-2013 01:39:11 | More by IPAchris

jnolan

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -8.3%

06-15-2013 01:35:55 | More by jnolan

ACB

California

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

06-14-2013 22:02:51 | More by ACB

jera1350

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

06-14-2013 21:53:55 | More by jera1350