Blind Pig IPA - Russian River Brewing Company

uberabr

California

4.8/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I had this one on tap at RR on Saturday and actually preferred it to the Russian River IPA and Pliny the Elder. Drank from a pint. Appearance is similar to their other IPA's, hazy yellow amber with some gold and some darker reddish hues. No head thanks to the Neanderthal behind the bar. Smells of cascade and a bouquet of floral and piney hops. Taste was excellent. A wonderfully rich combination of bitter pine, fruity hop, and some mouth-watering candy sweetness. It was similar to Pliny but had a rich backbone of fruity syrup that made it stand out. Mouthfeel and drinkability were excellent as with all RR beers. This was definitely one of the best IPA's I've tried lately.

Serving type: on-tap

02-21-2007 00:24:21 | More by uberabr

hipboy221

California

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%

05-25-2013 08:45:01 | More by hipboy221

switzer

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

05-24-2013 21:24:07 | More by switzer

Spaz7

California

4.75/5  rDev +8.9%

05-24-2013 19:56:55 | More by Spaz7

JoshTellez

California

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%

05-24-2013 19:43:34 | More by JoshTellez

Dirksen

California

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

05-24-2013 18:13:49 | More by Dirksen

Jeremy_H

Illinois

4/5  rDev -8.3%

05-24-2013 01:56:34 | More by Jeremy_H

brewtus

Ohio

4.54/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- poured bottle into tulip. pours bright orange, clear, two finger white head
S-sweet piney hops, breads, pineapple, honey
T- starts slow, very sweet tropical fruits, pine, melon,again some honey, hint of bubblegum
M- thin, very easy to put back
O- not overly hoppy, tons of sweet tropical fruits, this beer is very refreshing and drinkable. Almost not Malt character, but not a hop bomb. I'm really glad I finally got to try this. This reminds me a lot of zombie only much fruitier.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 01:06:57 | More by brewtus

Stevedore

Wisconsin

4.4/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

510ml bottle dated 5/2/2013 poured into a Bell's snifter and quaffed today 5/22/2013. I've also had this beer 3x in the past, but 2x I made the mistake of drinking a couple Plinys beforehand so I couldn't really do a fair review. So now this is the first time I can sit down and write a fair review of Vinnie's first big hit.

Aroma: When I popped the bottle, I got a faceful of citrus and some pine. In the glass, I have tons of sweet honey and biscuits accompanied by a subdued citrus scent, with no hints of pine or earth. The malt backbone of this beer really shows in the nose which is definitely a forceful one. (4)

Colour: A thing of beauty. Pours a clear golden copper, like a shiny penny but on the lighter side. Comes with a big 3cm head, definitely well-carbonated and fluffy. Dissipates over 5 minutes or so into a thin film with a thick collar on the sides. The lacing is sporadic and falls into the glass quickly. (4.5)

Flavour: Robust honey, biscuits and caramel throughout, accentuated by a nice but not overwhelming grapefruity flavour throughout, with a nice, clean and bitter pine finish. The malty sweetness really represents this beer here, and it does it well. It seems to be a Russian River theme- make their beers taste very hoppy but not overwhelmingly bitter or over the top & covering up the malt backbone. (4.5)

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied IPA with excellent carbonation. Resinous but not overly clingy in terms of sticking to the palate. Has a good bitter aftertaste but is not an overwhelming bitterbomb. The interesting thing about the aftertaste is that it lingers for a long time- if I move my tongue around a bit to spread the love some more, it's like the aftertaste is echo'ing in my mouth- extending the experience even more. It's really cool. I don't feel any booziness here even as this beer warms up.. such a smooth drinking beer that disappeared all too quickly. (4.5)

Overall: Pliny's big brother (being that this is Vinnie's original IPA) does not disappoint. It's a nice sweet but not cloyingly sweet IPA that is very hoppy yet is not overwhelmingly bitter- it all comes together very well to make for an interesting, easy drinking experience that is truly refreshing- it doesn't feel watered down at all. It just exchanges excess, unnecessary (IMO) bitterness for more hop flavour (not that much different than Pliny vs super bitter DIPAs) and apparently that's what I prefer on any given day. (4.5)

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 23:17:37 | More by Stevedore

BigbROB

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%

05-22-2013 15:44:33 | More by BigbROB

logicerror

California

4/5  rDev -8.3%

05-22-2013 01:40:33 | More by logicerror

jakecattleco

California

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%

05-21-2013 17:54:21 | More by jakecattleco

PlinyBeMiney

California

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

05-21-2013 07:36:40 | More by PlinyBeMiney

CosmoHopHead

Kansas

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

05-21-2013 04:36:29 | More by CosmoHopHead

tommyguz

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +8.9%

05-21-2013 02:44:20 | More by tommyguz

ackeeper

Illinois

4/5  rDev -8.3%

05-21-2013 01:44:32 | More by ackeeper

kdown

California

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

05-20-2013 23:18:32 | More by kdown

deniserat

California

4.75/5  rDev +8.9%

05-20-2013 22:27:15 | More by deniserat

benz08

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +8.9%

05-20-2013 07:53:50 | More by benz08

duobob

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

05-20-2013 05:14:06 | More by duobob

YieldToNothing

New York

4.21/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

16 ounce bottle into a pint glass. brought it back form the brewery after my trip to north cali.
i flew with it, so i'm thinking that's why there was so much head. not overly carbonated, very mellow taste, nothing really overwhelms.
what can i say that hasn't been said? certainly not a game changer in my book, but a very good ipa.
a couple of people i talked to in frisco said they prefer this to pliny...yea, i don't really see that.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 02:10:21 | More by YieldToNothing

IP-EH

California

4/5  rDev -8.3%

05-19-2013 22:02:38 | More by IP-EH

Kreko7

California

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

05-19-2013 16:18:30 | More by Kreko7

alanv

California

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%

05-18-2013 21:29:39 | More by alanv

eyeenjoybeer

Indiana

4/5  rDev -8.3%

05-18-2013 18:27:44 | More by eyeenjoybeer