Russian River Row 2, Hill 56 Straight from the growler, I first had this beer up at the brewery for the Pliny the Younger release and HAD to have more, so a big thanks to my friend Samantha for delivering me a fresh growler after her trip up for the Beatification release. This is a single hop pale ale, showcasing the Simcoe hop grown in the Pacific Northwest. The beer pours a nice clear faint copper color, hints of orange when held to the light, a nice finger of soapy head sits atop the beer that has fair retention but leaves behind some nice sticky lacing around the glass. The aroma is extremely dank and very resinous. Big sticky pine, what I can only describe as cat pee with some bright citrus at the end, that is cut very well with some rich bready malt. The aroma is so pungent and just bursts out of the glass, really shows off the Simcoe hop. The flavors are great, big pine presence, nice grapefruit and something more tropical papaya with a really dry bitter dirty earthiness at the end that also brings out some soft malt. It’s really incredible what can come out of a single hop, especially in the aroma, my hats off to Vinnie. The body is pretty thin, higher than anticipated carbonation that is a bit too prickly at times, but on the whole is pretty on par with most pale ales. Verdict: Fantastic pale ale from Russian River. Currently a draft and growler only option, but soon to be available in bottles and I can not be more excited. For anyone near the brewery, this is worth the trip! (4.43/5)

Russian River Row 2, Hill 56

Straight from the growler, I first had this beer up at the brewery for the Pliny the Younger release and HAD to have more, so a big thanks to my friend Samantha for delivering me a fresh growler after her trip up for the Beatification release. This is a single hop pale ale, showcasing the Simcoe hop grown in the Pacific Northwest. The beer pours a nice clear faint copper color, hints of orange when held to the light, a nice finger of soapy head sits atop the beer that has fair retention but leaves behind some nice sticky lacing around the glass. The aroma is extremely dank and very resinous. Big sticky pine, what I can only describe as cat pee with some bright citrus at the end, that is cut very well with some rich bready malt. The aroma is so pungent and just bursts out of the glass, really shows off the Simcoe hop. The flavors are great, big pine presence, nice grapefruit and something more tropical papaya with a really dry bitter dirty earthiness at the end that also brings out some soft malt. It’s really incredible what can come out of a single hop, especially in the aroma, my hats off to Vinnie. The body is pretty thin, higher than anticipated carbonation that is a bit too prickly at times, but on the whole is pretty on par with most pale ales.

Verdict: Fantastic pale ale from Russian River. Currently a draft and growler only option, but soon to be available in bottles and I can not be more excited. For anyone near the brewery, this is worth the trip! (4.43/5)