Kern River Citra Double IPA

Brewed by Kern River Brewing
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Kernville, California USA

Serve in Shaker, Snifter

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A friend of a friend brought a growler of this, unfortunately, I do not remember her name. Aroma has piney, grapefruit, mango, citrus hop aromas present with a nice, balanced sweetness. Pretty damn fruity nose. Mostly hazy golden orange body with a large, frothy white head that leaves really nice white lacing. Citrus passionfruit flavors dominate the start with a little pineapple, too. This is just exploding with hops. This also has a really nice sweet malty backbone, which stands up to the hops nicely, leaving a really balanced and drinkable beer. Finishes with some piney hop flavors. This is really juicy. I like.

On tap at Bistro DIPA Fest poured a cloudy golden yellow with a lasting off white head. Aromas of peach, cookie, orange, tropical fruit and light pink grapefruit. Palate was medium bodied and crisp with a dry finish. Flavors of peach, cookie, tropical fruit and orange with a crisp dry fruity finish.

22 oz bottle. Foggy orange with a billowy white head. Nose is pineapple, mango, white pepper and cannabis. Thick and juicy, hops adding spice and bite but not much bitterness. Taste is mango, candied grapefruit peel, blood orange and spruce. Hints of mint finishing with clam juice (?). Delicious.

Bottle - 22oz. Cracked the bottle and was immediately greeted with an explosion of pine (Columbus and Citra?) and mango (Amarillo?). Citra pours a mildly hazy, beautiful sunset-orange. Boasts a perfect, not-too-foamy long-lasting head which acts as a cushion, softening the landing into that crisp co2 mouth-feel and immediate hop bite. HUGE aroma; Grass, pine, grapefruit, mango, bubblegum, honey, feet, and a hint of fat people BO. Smells a bit like the Christmas tree in my living room. What stands out of me is how medium-bodied this is, much more full and chewy than most imperial IPAs released lately, which are typically much thinner. Flavor is very similar to its aroma, minus the fruit; and not to my surpise ... not very bitter. Tastes "green," bringing to the table grass, pine, and a hint of oxidation (which comes with every IPA not consumed within 5 minutes of bottling). There is recognizable caramel malt character and sweetness grounding that hop flavor explosion, all while still allowing it to go out and play, much like a parent telling their teenage daughter she needs to be in by midnight. Finishes clean with zero off-flavors. This thing is dry-hopped so much that you can actually feel the hop oil coating your mouth after each sip. Overall, this is great stuff. Worthy of a GABF gold? ... perhaps. Lives up to its hype, even though the bottle I have is weeks old since bottling. I could only imagine what it tastes like fresh from the source. Road trip?

Thanks Urcancaver for sharing multiple samples from a growler. Bright and lively orange pour with a fluffy white head. Loads of lace. Aroma is tropical fruit. Citra Bomb, resinous, mango, papaya Awesome

Draguht at Bistro’s 10th DIPA festival. Hazy looking gold pour with a thick head. Super fresh floral hops and soft pine in the aroma. The flavor is very hop forward without being really bitter or sweet. Very soft and smooth with excellent drinkability. Lots of tropical fruit and pine flavors with a touch of malt. Like Ken said, creamy. A standout of the fest for sure.

Growler sample. Pours orange/tan with a medium white head. Aroma and Flavor are a magical blend of citrus fruits and hops. Medium bodied with a pinch and a little warmth. Damn good.

UPDATED: DEC 23, 2010 Thanks to bu11zeye for sharing this growler. The beer pours a golden color with a white head. The aroma definitely screams Double IPA. I get a lot of resiny hops, but there is also quite a bit of orange citrus mixed in. I don’t get much, if any malt in the aroma. The flavor is a hop explosion. The first hops that I get are resiny and piney, but then the fruit comes in. I get a ton of different fruit flavors. Among them are pineapples, oranges and mangos. I also get some biscuit malt mixed in to keep the bitterness at a low to medium level. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Excellent.

Bottle @ Dan’s house, courtesy of arminjewell. Thanks amigo! Pretty clear, fluorescent orange appearance with a white head. Potent grapefruit citrusy, light ganja, a touch resins, floral hoppy aroma. Rich grapefruit creamy, orange citrusy, a bit piney ganja hoppy flavor with a lingering dry finish. Nice beer.

Growler. Courtesy of maltzilla. Poured into a tulip glass a slightly cloudy orange amber color with a slightly off white head head that laces nicely as it settles. Aroma is that of tropical fruit like mango mixed with citrus. Malty start gives way to a very strong hop profile that lingers on and has nice flavors of citrus and fruit. Nicely done and well blended.