Defenestration - Russian River Brewing Company

animortician

California

3.5/5  rDev -12.3%

01-29-2012 05:54:21 | More by animortician

flayedandskinned

California

4.4/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A fresh Growler less than a day old.
Poured into a Duvel Tulip glass.

Appearance: (4)
Pours a hazy, straw gold with honey esque, orange highlights. A pure white, 2.5 finger tall head sprouts as soon as the beer hits the glass. Good head retention and the head leaves some spotty lacing down the sides of the tulip.

Aroma: (4.5)
Big, fruity Belgian yeast phenols erupt out of the glass; banana, red apple flesh, and a hint of spicy close. There is a burst of orange blossom and a whisper of lemon, as well as some grassiness from the hops. A strong biscuity malt presence rounds off the very floral, sweet nose. Light tropical notes appear as the beer warms.

Taste: (4.5)
Juicy notes of orange, lemon and light grass hit your palate right away, with a huge yeasty middle in tow; The yeast is very fruit forward and slightly musty(definitely seems to be a Biere De Garde yeast); banana, pear, and apple flesh, much like the nose. Some sweet biscuit malt helps round out the flavor profile before the abrasively dry, bitter finish. Notes of apple, banana, apricot and juicy orange from the hops are left dancing on your palate.

Mouthfeel: (4.25) Full Bodied with moderate to high carbonation. Very, very dry. Never had a beer quite like this, it starts drying out your tongue before you even swallow it.

Overall: (4.25) A Belgian IPA, done the Vinnie Cilurzo way. Vinnie seems to have taken the Belgian IPA style and put his own twist on it. He has done away with the super citrus-y, piney and tropical American hops in conjunction with Belgian yeast. Which to me, is a really good call because when the high alpha American hops are used in tandem with the naturally very fruity, estery Belgian yeast, is an absolute train wreck in flavor; The yeast and hops just fight each other too much and the beer tends to get this weird peanut butter flavor as the hops start to oxidize. Defenestration does not suffer from these qualms at all; the yeast esters and floral hops really marry well together and they coalesce beautifully in the incredibly dry finish. Russian River does an incredible job as usual with this beer!

Serving type: growler

05-23-2013 06:47:36 | More by flayedandskinned

2dogbrew

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%

05-13-2013 21:35:05 | More by 2dogbrew

waddellc2

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +0.3%

05-09-2013 00:35:09 | More by waddellc2

NWer

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +12.8%

03-23-2013 15:52:39 | More by NWer

wtkphoto

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +12.8%

02-13-2013 04:18:27 | More by wtkphoto

jvillefan

California

3.75/5  rDev -6%

01-30-2013 18:34:08 | More by jvillefan

tbone1384

Wyoming

3.75/5  rDev -6%

11-03-2012 03:15:41 | More by tbone1384

Swonkie

4/5  rDev +0.3%

10-28-2012 20:03:26 | More by Swonkie

AgentMunky

Alabama

4.03/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in sample glass at the brewery. From notes. Reviewed 14 April 2012.

A: Pale, clear gold. Light head and no lacing.

S: Some soft fruits. Peaches?

T: Interesting. Light but bitter hops. Dry and yeasty. Some floral spice (like chewing on flowers, with a similar herbal bitterness). Thinish, with a fruity aftertaste.

O: Great beer! Definitely recommended. Would have again.

Serving type: on-tap

08-04-2012 21:36:29 | More by AgentMunky

masonkessinger

District of Columbia

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%

08-02-2012 20:48:34 | More by masonkessinger

jda007

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%

07-20-2012 01:25:36 | More by jda007

crobinso

Colorado

4/5  rDev +0.3%

05-30-2012 22:58:18 | More by crobinso

oaktree42

4/5  rDev +0.3%

04-14-2012 16:35:16 | More by oaktree42

emilylee

California

3.75/5  rDev -6%

04-06-2012 22:16:37 | More by emilylee

RespectBeer101

Spain

4/5  rDev +0.3%

04-06-2012 04:09:02 | More by RespectBeer101

yorktronic

5/5  rDev +25.3%

04-05-2012 00:16:04 | More by yorktronic

theempire

California

4.75/5  rDev +19%

03-30-2012 23:12:30 | More by theempire

AlexChillton

Arizona

3.75/5  rDev -6%

03-19-2012 12:38:49 | More by AlexChillton

litheum94

California

3.8/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Russian River.

Slightly cloudy, opaque golden orange. Presented with no head save for a white ring around the glass.

Earthy and spicy Belgian yeast with leafy, woody hops. Lemon citrus and a slight sourness on the nose.

Aromas follow through on the palate. Dry and earthy Belgian yeast flavors. Spicy midpalate with lemon citrus twange. Good dose of hops, leafy and piney.

The hop profile makes this a unique beer and a very tasty one at that. Refreshing and rewarding.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2012 20:52:56 | More by litheum94

avaldivia

California

3.5/5  rDev -12.3%

02-20-2012 15:23:47 | More by avaldivia

JimmyTango

California

4/5  rDev +0.3%

02-09-2012 16:29:59 | More by JimmyTango

chalkfullof

California

3.5/5  rDev -12.3%

02-02-2012 07:00:56 | More by chalkfullof

pmarlowe

California

3.5/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at O'Brien's RR TION Weekend. Chalice.

A: Medium gold, thin white head. Not much retention and no lacing.

S: Some banana, clove, spice, pale malt. Not much hops.

T: Similar, with bready malt, some apple, and decent sweetness.

M: Medium body, medium carbonation. Feels a little flabby, but maybe all blonde ales are.

O: Not really getting much hops for a "hoppy blonde ale". I would peg this as a bit above average.

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2012 02:40:53 | More by pmarlowe

HopHead84

California

3.5/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

1/28/2012

On tap for O'Brien's TION weekend.

A: Translucent gold with a small white head.

S: Fruity eaters remind me of lemon, apple, and pear. A light pepper-like spiciness is evident. Lemongrass accompanies earth and mineral.

T: Grassy with a lower moderate bitterness. Lemongrass blends with light pepper notes. I get some apple and pear.

M: Upper light body with lower medium carbonation.

Overall: A solid Belgian Pale. This great name should be used for a beer more worthy of it.

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2012 17:36:04 | More by HopHead84