Hopfather - Russian River Brewing Company

oldcrustacean

Connecticut

5/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On tap at the Russian River brewery after a MTB ride at Annadel State Park.

Overwhelming, yet balanced hop dominance. Puts Pliny to shame. Left with two growlers. The dry hopped aroma filled the car on the drive back to San Francisco (yes, through the glass, it's that potent.)

Excellent beer, would try again. A++

I'd only drink RR fresh -- bottles don't do their craft justice. Sorry, CP, maybe one day you can experience RR properly.

Serving type: on-tap

10-05-2010 16:02:12 | More by oldcrustacean

moonknight31

California

4.25/5  rDev -3.8%

05-10-2013 02:47:02 | More by moonknight31

MykelJH

California

4/5  rDev -9.5%

03-15-2013 09:41:32 | More by MykelJH

Azrael

4.25/5  rDev -3.8%

02-08-2013 04:19:23 | More by Azrael

LSUPT

California

4/5  rDev -9.5%

01-24-2013 05:30:08 | More by LSUPT

domtronzero

California

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

01-21-2013 16:26:57 | More by domtronzero

yourefragile

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -9.5%

01-18-2013 01:52:14 | More by yourefragile

Jspriest

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev -3.8%

01-12-2013 04:36:18 | More by Jspriest

spycow

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -3.8%

01-11-2013 23:57:06 | More by spycow

arash1000

California

3.5/5  rDev -20.8%

12-27-2012 05:49:30 | More by arash1000

mbixler

California

4/5  rDev -9.5%

12-16-2012 17:54:04 | More by mbixler

Mister_Joshy

California

4.25/5  rDev -3.8%

11-04-2012 16:28:16 | More by Mister_Joshy

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap first night at Russian River during the T25 party. Pour is clear golden orange with white ring. Nose is heavy hop, tons of tropic fruit a d grapefruit. Nose is sweet, taste is super hoppy and tight, so dry with huge tropical fruit and grapefruit. Really hop forward and tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

10-09-2012 16:57:24 | More by cpetrone84

drjman

4.25/5  rDev -3.8%

09-03-2012 04:41:47 | More by drjman

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Massive resin on this one. Loads of oils with thick piney tones to it. It almost seems a bit much to me in that it's well beyond balanced. Just kind of a massive explosion of hops; if you are into that sort of thing.

For the hop-manic, you'll love it. For me, I'm over the obnoxious tones and looking for something a little more rounded anymore.

Serving type: on-tap

08-31-2012 05:47:19 | More by RblWthACoz

brystmar

New York

4.38/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Buddy of mine had to go on stomach medication after trading for a fresh growler of this, so I inherited most of this growler. Here's a toast to your speedy recovery :)

Beautiful pour: orange body overflows with luscious white head and sticky lace. Fresh, juicy hops tickle my nose as I enjoy the aroma. Grapefruit and other fruits jump out too.

Action-packed flavor profile starts off with aggressive hops which later fade in favor of tropical fruits. Taste remains bold and flavorful without the overly-bitter hop resin character which often characterizes the style. Among the best of its style.

Single IPA is among my least favorite styles. There are only a handful of them I enjoy -- and even fewer that I'd actually purchase for myself. Hopfather falls into the latter.

Serving type: growler

08-28-2012 21:24:47 | More by brystmar

Arbitrator

California

4.4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks, Craig.

A: Pours a slightly hazy golden-amber body with well-retaining off-white head. It retreats down the glass in clumps, leaving sticky lace down the sides in rings.

S: Grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, even a hint of mango. Craig told me this was filled 8 or 11 days ago (he wasn't sure -- and frankly, if you know Craig, you understand the uncertainty of +/- 1.5 days), but the aroma isn't suffering for it. This is much more vibrant than I remember, and than my old review indicates.

T: Powerful citrus punch: a clean burst of grapefruit, mango, pineapple, and tangerine. The tropical citrus bomb hits my sweet spot. It has a touch of pine, as well. The beer has enough astringency to give it the impression of being slightly acidic; at times it tastes like pineapple juice. Remarkable.

M: The astringency I mention works well here as a textural element. It doesn't inhibit drinkability in the slightest; I put away half the growler with ease. No lingering bitterness; it has a clean aftertaste. Appropriate carbonation.

O: I wish I could have gotten a couple of growlers of this for myself and trading partners. When I finally made it up to RRBC, the beer had kicked. What a missed opportunity. I clearly appreciate this beer a lot more than I did two years ago.

Serving type: growler

08-22-2012 05:57:53 | More by Arbitrator

scottfrie

California

3.63/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at the brewery.

A: Served a slightly hazy golden with a thin fuzzy head that retained a great collar and left wispy rings of lace down the glass.
S: Pine, grass, and a hint of mint. Powerful hoppy nose.
T: Earthy and herbal hops come through strongly. Very herbal and grassy, almost no citrus. I get a touch of onion and pine. Very fresh tasting with a solid bitterness in the finish.
M: Full for an ipa, very slick mouthfeel and smooth drinking. Perfect carbonation.
O: I can see how people love this, but personally it’s not my favorite hop profile and I’d drink almost any other hoppy beer RR makes instead of this one.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2012 16:46:54 | More by scottfrie

jaasen64

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2L swingtop growler poured into Founders snifter. Thanks to DeanoMac for this one.

A- Pours a hazy golden slightly brownish orange with about just under two fingers of white bubbly foamy head with good retention. Some nice small carbonation bubbles rising to the top of the glass. Nice layered lacing left around the glass.

S- Slightly tangy citrus orange hops, pine, light grapefruit, some very light caramel malts in the background. Slightly above average aroma strength.

T- Citrus orange hops, decent amount of pine, some grapefruit, finishes with a little bit of caramel malts followed by a bitter citrus piney finish. Aftertaste of grapefruit hops. Nice taste that is very well balanced between everything.

M- Medium bodied, nice carbonation, slightly sticky from the hops, very drinkable, slightly tangy on the tongue.

O- This was a very good IPA. Russian River really knows how to make some good beers. Nice balance between everything. Nice sticky hops with more of a tangy orange taste then I'm used to with East Coast IPAs. Overall I enjoyed this just as much as some of the East Coast IPAs. Hope I can try this again some time.

Serving type: growler

08-15-2012 02:06:35 | More by jaasen64

JebediahScooter

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

08-14-2012 00:48:08 | More by JebediahScooter

roblund

California

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

08-13-2012 20:42:06 | More by roblund

nataku00

California

4.15/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap poured into a nonic glass. Beer is a clear orange color with no head with the glass filled to the top. A few bubbles here and there.

Nose is citrus, grapefruit and orange peel, fresh pine, lighter stone fruit. A bit of caramel malt sweetness as well.

Taste follows the nose, grapefruit orange and peach hop flavor, a good hit of pine and citrus peel bitterness, balanced with a light caramel sweetness. Lingering citrus peel bitterness on the tongue.

Light bodied with mild but present carbonation, enough to keep the tongue clean. Easy to drink and very aromatic, with a light refreshing flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2012 23:31:52 | More by nataku00

litheum94

California

4.38/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Russian River.

Bright, orange-golden body. Presented with scant head. Some lacing.

Juicy, sweet, tropical fruits. Light spicing, with a vegetal, leafy essence. Some caramel aromas.

Peachy fruit flavors. Not as fruity as the nose. Good spicing, with vegetal hop flavors and a good dose of bitterness. Dry, crackery malts. Some warming alcohol.

Will Vinny ever make a bad IPA. Super good and refreshing. And it's definitely distinct from Blind Pig and Pliny.

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2012 19:53:06 | More by litheum94

DarthKostrizer

California

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

08-12-2012 17:37:33 | More by DarthKostrizer

hooliganlife

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

pours a golden orange, thick white head, lacing down the sides.

very citrus forward, tropical, with strong orange and grapefruit.

flavor is complex, lots of tropical fruit, bitterness, orange/tangerine, and some pine. light malty backbone.

full body with a hint of lightness, goes down easy. resin and oily. dry finish.

easily one of the best IPA's ever.

Serving type: growler

08-12-2012 03:31:00 | More by hooliganlife