From Jul 2008

I bought this from South Bay Drugs & Liquors. Thanks Joey!

Ahhh..a 500ml bottle. Time to pull out my trusty New Belgium Imperial Pint glass.

It's a nice clear medium gold in colour with a 2 finger head of foam that shrunk quickly to 1 finger but now doesn't seem to be going anywhere soon. Good sticky lacing.

The smell is of grapefruit and floral hops and is very nice. A similar nose to other IPAs that I've had but nevertheless, always a pleasure to encounter.

The taste certainly is all about the hops. Big notes grapefruit and some grass that are a bitter delight on my palate but there is *some* malt in the background. Way in the background but it's there and does provide some support and at least an attempt at balance.. Hell, that's ok with me as American IPAs go. Sometimes I'm in the mood for a more balanced example, sometimes I want the hops to dominate and permeate my every taste bud. It all depends on my mood and right now, I say "bring on the hops" and Blind Pig is not disappointing me at all in that regard.

Good medium mouthfeel with a lightish amount of carbonation. It finishes on the same note it started...bitter and delicious. And...pretty easy drinking to boot. I'm having zero problems finishing this bottle but that, in itself, is a problem if you get where I'm coming from.

And yeah, head retention is better than average as I had a feeling it would be.

Bottom line: I'm pretty darned happy that I picked this brew up and I enjoyed the bottle I drank immensely. Now, I look forward to *trying* to get some Pliny The Elder. RR really does have it all going on....

On tap at Monk's Cafe in Philadelphia. Clear, amber orange pour. Finger high creamy beige head. Sharp, bittersweet toasted malt flavor upfront is quickly overtaken by the burst of piney, resiny hops. Dank, citrus hops and toffe-like malt in middle. Dry, resiny, bitter hops in finish. Really well done.

On tap at Toronado, San Francisco. Pours cloudy golden with white head. Strong hoppiness in aroma, citrus, tropical fruit, pine, easy drinkable. Lasting bitterness in finish. Dry. Medium bodied. Very nice, liked it more than Pliny.

Draft at the source. Clear gold color, white head. Aroma is fruity, with citrus and pine. Taste is citrus, pine, tropical fruit, nice caramel malt backbone. Good balance. Very nice.

Tap at the brewpub. Pours clear golden. Aroma is tropical fruit and citrus. Body is medium, almost heavy, really sweet and also bitter, yet not overpowered. Clearly a younger brother of the Plinies. Beautiful.

510 ml bottle, bottled 08/25/16, shared by Werckmeister, many thanks!
Amber, clear body, with a big, creamy, lacing, white head.
Aroma of pine, passion fruit, kiwi, citrus, orange, flowers, some caramel, some citrus candy.
Tastes of grapefruit, pine, resin, orange, passion fruit, pineapple, flowers, biscuit, some honey.
Medium, oily mouthfeel, with an average carbonation.
Finishes medium bitter, citric, resinous, zesty, a bit piney, floral, a bit sweet malty.

Tasty. Perfectly balanced and crisp, drinks very smooth. Just the right amount of bitterness and malt body, with a nice mellow, floral-fruity hop profile. Overall not among my favourite IPAs as it lacks the last bit of outstanding character maybe, but still really great stuff.