Registration Ale
Russian River Brewing Company

Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Russian River Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
American IPA
ABV:
7.5%
Score:
98
Avg:
4.54 | pDev: 5.73%
Reviews:
49
Ratings:
53
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 27, 2011
Added:
Jun 13, 2010
Wants:
  15
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by sideshowe:
Photo of sideshowe
Rated by sideshowe from Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +10.1%

Nov 15, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by SPRichard from New Jersey

Dec 27, 2011
 
Rated: 5 by oline73 from Maryland

Nov 16, 2011
 
Rated: 4.5 by westcoastbeerlvr from California

Nov 14, 2011
Photo of ktrillionaire
Reviewed by ktrillionaire from Florida

4.02/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
From (old) notes. Big thanks to Alex for the share.

A - It pours a golden hue with tinges of orange, slightly hazy, and capped with about an inch of white froth. Retention and lace are moderate.

S - I am getting a well-rounded hop bouquet here; some juicy notes of tropical-citrus, some woody-piney greenness as well as some dank, resiny, cannabis notes. The malt contributes a very nice subtle sugar cookie sweetness, but is otherwise not very apparent.

T - The flavor is more herbal, mineral and spicy than the nose suggests. The citrus is far less nuanced, lending only flavors of zesty pith and not delivering on the expansive juiciness found in the nose. There is a bit of a spicy wood note from the malt which is less successful, but overall the malt is still very nice, light, and crisp. This tastes like a good IPA, but no better than, say, SN Torpedo or Two-Hearted.

M - IPA. Good.

D - Pretty good, not amazing though.
Mar 09, 2011
Photo of victory4me
Reviewed by victory4me from Pennsylvania

4.82/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Reviewed from notes. Served into a nonic pint at TJ's in Paoli.

Pours darker than your typical CA IPA, but beautiful with a ton of lacing. A sight to behold, even though I prefer a more pale IPA.

Smells like someone squeezed a hop into my face. Pungent grapefruit, spicy, piny, citrus...

Taste floors me. The piny/grapefruit almost knocks me over. No off flavors, malts are noticable, but perfectly placed. This is the best IPA I've ever had. Undoubtedly better than Blind Pig.

Mouthfeel is very spicy and slightly cloying. I love a spicy IPA that almost burns your tongue. Very comparable to ultra fresh Maharaja, but still a bit cloying and sticky.

I could drink a couple of these, it's just too damn tasty to only have one. Despite the 7.5 ABV, it feels stronger and not something I could kick back all night, but I could drink a few.

A tremendous beer. I pulled these notes after having my first taste of Younger last night and if my memory serves me right, I am of the belief that Registration was superior.
Feb 24, 2011
Photo of orangesol
Reviewed by orangesol from Pennsylvania

4.57/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Reviewed from notes. Served on-tap at TJ's scraps event into a nonic pint.

A - Pours light orange, with good clarity, with a strong one finger head leaving minimal lacing down the glass. Quite the unassuming pour.

S - The nose is just awesome. Bright pine and citrus hops dominate the nose and are ever present. The pungency and bitterness of the nose reminds me most of blind pig. As it warms up, the floral character of the hops just continues to grow and grow. Not as floral as elder but the nose is still a great expression of hops.

T - Starts out with a big, spicy, piney, citrusy hop bite. The strong citrus hops never really leave this one. Some sweetness in the middle from the malt but not as overpowering as some DIPA's. Finish has a touch of alcohol with a light, lingering, hop bitterness. Not as good as either of the pliny's or maybe even blind pig but still one of the best IPA's I have had in quite some time.

M - Medium body and flavor with moderate carbonation. Finish is bitter but not to the point of being overpowering. Very nice feel.

D - One of the best. I had two because it was just so good. I have had almost all of the russian river IPA's on the market right now and this was one of the best I have had. I still like younger more but this is strongly in that second group.
Dec 12, 2010
Photo of FeDUBBELFIST
Reviewed by FeDUBBELFIST from Pennsylvania

4.64/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Draft poured from a freshly tapped keg. Served in a pint glass for $7.

A: Served with a finger and a half of foamy head, not quite white, sudsy, with medium retention. The body is perfectly clear and pale peachy-orange in color with the faintest copper tint. Lacing lays down in sporadic torn-sheet patterns.

S: The citrus and tropical fruit character on the nose is tremendous. Tangerine dominates, followed by orange cream, mango and peach. Pale bready malts are present but nowhere near prominent.

T: The flavor is identical to the nose, only marginally less impressive. Incredibly juicy, fruity and rivaled [almost] only by other Russian River DIPAs. When considering the higher alcohol content of PtE and the much higher content of PtY, the flavor of Registration Ale is extremely impressive. The ABV is condensed here, yet the aromas and flavors aren't compromised at all.

M: The mouthfeel is spectacular. Tongue-surfing bubbles ride a fine fizzy wave providing just enough bite to keep things lively and inspired. The mouthfeel is complete and substantial, grabbing your attention immediately and holding on until you can no longer resist another sip. Medium body, happily bitter and appropriately so since the sweetness ultimately reigns supreme. Bitter and dry on the finish, yet the flavor enndures throughout.

D: This is like juice for the hop head. All aroma and flavor components are huge and identifiable. Truly an amazing beer.
Nov 02, 2010
Photo of craytonic
Reviewed by craytonic from District of Columbia

4.42/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Acquired from a very generous trader; from notes:

Appearance: Nice clear straw-amber pour, decent head and lacing

Smell & taste: Fresh citrus, pineapple and grapefruit hops, just a notch below blind pig and Pliny the Younger.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and creamy

Drinkability: Shines in this regard, a bit more drinkable than PtY. That said, I'd place this one right behind the two Plinys and Blind Pig. Funny how that still is above most IPAs in the country. Certainly something that should be brewed again. I have no clue how vinnie makes the hops pop, so fresh!
Sep 08, 2010
Photo of Mora2000
Reviewed by Mora2000 from Texas

4.32/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Big thanks to thirdeye11 for sharing this hand bottle.

The beer pours a standard yellow color with a white head. The aroma is awesome. I get notes of mango, pineapple and pine. This is what an IPA is supposed to smell like. The flavor is just as good. I get a lot of pineapple, orange and mangos, with some piney hops mixed in. The beer is fairly bitter but is not overpowering. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. An awesome beer.
Sep 02, 2010
Photo of koopa
Reviewed by koopa from New Jersey

4.52/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Growler received today in a trade with a generous BA thanks!

Appearance: Pours goldfish orange with a bit of haze and a 1 finger white crown that shows little retention but moderate lacing.

Smell: Lots of grapefruit, tangelo orange, pineapple, pine resin (quite like pliny the elder only more herbal) with a hint of toffee malt.

Taste: Same as nose but with an enjoyable hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel: On the light side of medium bodied with moderate carbonation but still comes off quite crisp.

Drinkability: All day!

This is one awesome brew that I hope Vinnie continues to make!
Aug 26, 2010
Photo of Thorpe429
Reviewed by Thorpe429 from Illinois

4.27/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Big thanks to Alex for this; what an absolutely amazing surprise.

A: Pours a slightly caramelized golden color with a nice white head and good lacing.

S: Quite a few hops packed in here with some nice citrus rind notes.

T: Note nearly as intense as the nose and with a bit more sweetness, although much of the sweetness seems to be perceived based on some of the fruity flavors imparted by the hops.

M: Nice amount of bitterness on a medium body. Good hop flavor to bitterness balance.

D: Very tasty all around. Never thought I'd get to try this unless it was made again. Thanks again, Alex.
Aug 05, 2010
Photo of drabmuh
Reviewed by drabmuh from Maryland

4.42/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Ut oh! Did Matt drive to Philly to buy a 5$ pint of beer? Pretty much. That's right I'm pathetic but I (again) have shut down the top 10 IPAs with this beer. Drank at Resurrection Ale House in Philly, two 12 ounce drafts.

Beer served in a really narrow tulip both times. Beer is yellow and moderately carbonated. Forms a thin head of white bubbles that leaves some lacing on the glass. Beer is kind of hazy. Looks good.

Aroma is fruity but primarily piny. Smell is reasonable.

Beer is quite bitter, strongly so. Quite chewy and resiny. Medium bodied, not very sweet and not too dry. Overall a great IPA. Glad I got it. My wife commented, "You are giddy now"...not everyday something works out the way you hoped. The hop flavors on the midpalate are mostly earthy and piny. Not a lot of citrus going on here. Its pretty similar to Pliny the Elder but less malty and lighter overall. A very good beer, it was a privilege to drink it.
Jul 25, 2010
Photo of InspectorBob
Reviewed by InspectorBob from New Jersey

4.8/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Was on tap at Eulogy Belgian Tavern in Olde City. Poured into a 12oz. goblet. Had a golden/orange color with about one finger of an off white head, slight lacing throughout. Aroma was of tropical fruits, grapefruit stood out for me, with some orange and tangerine. The taste and mouthfeel were very smooth with slight carbonation and a little bitterness on the end.

This was a very good beer, you would never know that it clocked in at 7.5% ABV, that's how smooth and drinkable it was. I had two...
Jul 24, 2010
Photo of berpwillie
Reviewed by berpwillie from Pennsylvania

4.84/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
had on tap at TND's this past weekend. pours a transparent copper yellow color with spare head that recedes quick. spare lacing as well with soft to flat carbonation. super strong fruity citrus smell that all but takes your breath away. probably the best smelling beer i've ever had to this point. smell pulls through in the flavor with some grass piney hints. light body, thin texture, and long flavor duration. slightly bitter in the finish but not much. probably the most refreshing beer i've ever had. very complex.
Jul 22, 2010
Photo of zoso1967
Reviewed by zoso1967 from Michigan

4.54/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Registration was served up looking very much like any other fine RR IPA. Deep golden with a bright white and sticky head that left appropriately sticky lace as I drained the glass. The aroma is like crack to my hop head soul with tons of grapefruit, orange, pine, pineapple and tropical hop aromas. I really tried hard to smell some malt in there, gut the full on hop assault made it nearly impossible to pick up anything but a slight whiff of biscuity malt sweetness. The flavor was a little bit different than the aroma in that it seemed much more piney and tropical. Don't get me wrong, there was grapefruit and other citrus in there as well, but this definitely seemed to have a little bit different mojo than a Blind Pig or Elder. Also, these hops were dank as hell. Has Vinnie started to dry hop with medical herbs? They are just so resiny and lend to a super long and bitter finish that begs for another sip. Oh yeah, there is also some malt in this beer, though it really is just there to hold up the hops. It does its job and lends a sort of candied flavor to the different hop contributions. The body is medium and the mouthfeel is a bit sticky in the finish, but what would you expect from a beer like this? Dangerously drinkable without even a hint of the 7.5 ABV. Not quite living up to Pliny standards, but this is one DAMN good IPA that lives up to the hype. Hopefully Vinnie brews this one again.
Jul 20, 2010
Photo of BARFLYB
Reviewed by BARFLYB from Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
On-tap at Local 44, The Iron Abbey, Teresa's Next Door, Hulmeville Inn and one other spot I cant remember.

Registration looks bright yellow with some small gold spots interweaved, From every pour there was a nice amount of bold white cramy foam that left some squiggly line patterns down the glass. It's bright and delicious looking beer.

Smell consists of grapefruit mango and just whiffs of the tropics. A small amount of pine and under that a smaller amount of sweet malt, small bisquit quality. Pungent and pleasant.

West coast hop juice blended with a ton of grapefruit, mango, oranges, and tangerines. I get alot of tangerine quality with just some pine and malt. Hop forward, lightly malted, and delicious. Less piney than pliny and the pig, citrus bursts.

This goes down real easy while the body is above light, nearing medium. A whole lot of carb but not bitey. Just enough hop oils, not muddled. A very clean IPA here, it does not kill the mouth. A few glasses won't destroy your palate. In one word, refreshing. Finishes a bit dry with enough malt to keep things in check.

It's 7.5% so a few will do, insanely drinkable and tasty. I could not get enough of this stuff. Another winner from the west.

Best keg in the city (from my choices.)

1. Hulmeville Inn
2. Local 44
3. The Iron Abbey
4. Teresa's Next Door
Jul 20, 2010
Photo of TheFightfan1
Reviewed by TheFightfan1 from Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On-Tap at Hulmeville Inn.
Poured into a pint glass. Pours a slight hazy golden-auburn color. A decent string of lacing around the edge of the glass.

Smell has some amazing hop aroma's. With a nice zesty lemon and tropical fruit that mixes with a nice crisp cracker maltiness.

Taste to me is more of a fruity IPA than a heavy hoppy IPA. Starts off with alot of tropical fruits, pineapple,mango. The bitter hops do make it's way through on tha palate just to let you know they are there.

Mouth more of lighter bodied brew with a nice mouth watering fruitiness. Decent bitter hops linger on the palate for a while.

I don't know how Russian River does it but it seems the higher the alcohol the easier drinking it becomes.
Jul 19, 2010
Photo of bwd110
Reviewed by bwd110 from Pennsylvania

4.17/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
on tap at Hulmeville Inn 7/18/10

For whatever reason, I've been missing this beer by hours at each bar since PBW... Had several glasses today, however.

A: Looks like a pretty standard ipa,... Nice golden straw color. Bright white head that dissipated very quickly. Mild lacing down the glass.

S: Big nose. Major hop pungency... Grapefruit, orange and pine notes. Smells like the bastard child of Blind Pig and PTE.

T: Very decent ipa. Not sure if it is better than Blind Pig. Certainly not in the same league as PTE... but damn good! I'm getting more of the piney hops than most. But for sure it is a tongue smacker!

M: Light/medium body, nice slick hop oil presence. Good amount of carbonation.

D: Great. This if the type of beer you latch onto and drink all day.

Glad to have tried this one, but hype aside, it's certainly not one of those beers you have to try before you die.
Jul 18, 2010
Photo of yourefragile
Reviewed by yourefragile from District of Columbia

4.66/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
16 oz pint glass at Teresa's.

Well, I wanted to write this off as being overly hyped by the PA crew, but damn this was good; I enjoyed this much more than the fresh Blind Pig I had last week. Appearance is the weakest part of the beer, a clear rich golden color with an almost non existent white head that leaves minimal amounts lacing. Aroma is a phenomenal punch of grapefruit and citric hops, slightly floral and a touch of caramel malt. The flavor is similar to Blind Pig but much sweeter and grapefruit dominant. Body is medium thick and soft with mild carbonation and a longbkasting bitter citric finish. Ugh, I hate adding to the hype on this, but damn these two glasses were good.
Jul 17, 2010
Registration Ale from Russian River Brewing Company
Beer rating: 98 out of 100 with 53 ratings