Russian River Happy Hops

Brewed by Russian River Brewing
Style: Golden Ale/Blond Ale
Santa Rosa, California USA

Serve in English pint, Shaker

Apparently, this brew is their Aud Blonde but with more hops, yum! On-tap at the brewpub. Pours bright, light orange/amber with a thinnish white head, good spider web lace. Smells mellow hoppy and smooth grassy. Tastes hoppy but not too bitter, just nice floral and tasty hoppy. A touch of lingering grassy bitterness as well as some malty sweetness. Medium body, good carbonation.

UPDATED: DEC 11, 2011 Draft @ brewpub. Pours light copper. The head is much thinner than the RR IPA we have beside it, tight but small. Aroma is weedy hop, fresh from vine, green and ripe with some pink grapefruit. Juicy and refreshing palate. The hemp esters come through as do the juicy citrus flavors, clementine plus pith and zest. Nice easy drinking pale, like a good bitter.good malt backbone balances the bright hop, but makes for quite a lot of malt sugars residual that I can do without as with the earthy note in aftertaste too.

A - Served a clear copper-orange color with a half-finger of frothy white head atop. The head fades down fairly quickly and leaves behind some nice lacing. S - The aroma is a mix of citrus hops with some other fruity elements (mango) and a bit of spiciness as well. There is also some sweet caramel malts as well. T - Starts off with a good kick of citrus hops with again some mango mixed in with some light bitterness and some sweet caramel malts. Through the middle, the mango and bitterness grow with the malt flavors getting a bit richer. The finish is a mix of sweet malts, hops, bitterness, and a bit of yeast that lingers. M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. It feels smooth with a nice dry sharpness to it. D - Very drinkable. Really interesting and unique hop profile that is really nice from start to end. The mango flavor is defiantly different. Overall, I really like this beer.

Draught from russian river. Pours lightish. Medium body. Fairly earthy aroma. Ok.

Huge thanks to schmoopsbeer for getting this growler out my way. Served in a Russian River TION goblet. I need a Russian River "hops" tulip. This is currently the #10 American Blonde Ale. Pours a clear light peach color with a two-finger white head and plenty of spotty lacing on the way down. Half a cap and a nice collar throughout. The nose bursts forth with some really nice tropical aromas and a good dosing of citrus as well. Mango and a some orange predominate. Slightly floral as well. The taste combines the hop elements quite well, especially in the feel. Not too much malt taste, just a bit of breadiness that lends a very slight chewiness to the body. Good bitterness and carbonation. Really solid brew. Wouldn’t expect anything less from Vinnie and crew. Serving type: growler

Earthy, barnlike hop aroma with some grapefruit on the end. Clear as can be deep golden-orange with white head and nice lacing. Lots of bitterness. Oily sticks to the tongue. Earth and barn hops without citrus. Some funky estery residual from the hops.

Pours a lighter orange color. Notes of sage, dirt, citrus rind, and ammonia. High carbonation.

On tap. Pours with a clear golden body with a large and resilient white head. Great lace. Aromas are hoppy, citrusy, orange, herbal, grainy and bready with medium esters. Nice and hoppy. Flavors are fruity, dry, citrus, grainy, light herbal and grassy notes. Estery. Bready and grainy malt bill. Very drinkable. Well attenuated, dry, lively bubbles, easy drinking. A great session beer!

big grassiness. A touch sour. Light bodied with some fruitiness. The hops are very distinctive. Nice light pale ale.