I can remember the Blind Pig Brewery in nearby Temecula, one of the really influential breweries early on in the movement. I was just 3 years into the Temecula Valley when Blind Pig opened in 1994. Today, founder Vinnie Cilurzo carries on the tradition with his Russian River’s Blind Pig IPA. Temecula is about an hour North of San Diego. Vinnie made his second Brewery in Santa Rosa, about an hour North of San Francisco - and who can blame him... Both Temecula and Santa Rosa are also in wine regions, that’s something to think about.
This scrumptious beer is really a refined, interesting and flavorful IPA. Seems like everything is “right” on this beer, from the head, lacing, and the really interesting hopping – really an exercise in restraint, nothing too over the top with this brew. I love the Simcoe hops, they make this ale a standout. At 6.25% ABV, it’s completely balanced and drinkable. The Blind Pig label makes note of “Citrus and Woody notes” – Yup, I agree!
Really, this is a terrific IPA, this is one you should seek out and at least try. It’s part of our brewing heritage, we all need to take a lesson from this guy. Plus they use the same (favorite of mine) Weihenstephaner-type heavy glass bottles which I re-purpose. If you can get those labels off! Brew on!
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