Blind Pig IPA is brewed in an affable, quaffable style.  At 6.1% alcohol, it isn’t exactly a giant, but we at Bend Wild have grown more fond of full flavor and low alcohol IPA’s in the last couple of tasting seasons.  Attractive labeling and text bring attention to Russian River’s unusual bottle size of  500 ml or 16.9oz.  making for a unique size and shape bottle with thick glass that gives it a sense of permanence.  “It’s such a heavy, interestingly shaped  bottle, don’t you think we should leave it on the mantle for awhile, Honey”.  This sort of statement is rarely received well in this household but they still occur, despite many lessons learned.  Please heed the warning traipsed along the outside of the label which comically yet repeatedly warns that Blind Pig is for savoring , not saving, and that it will not improve with age.  They are right.  It’s a lesson that should be headed by more publicans and shop owners.  Hoppy beers should be drank quickly and they should be stored cold until consumption.

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Nose/Appearance –Attractive slightly hazy golden orange color with a nearly white fine head and delicate lacing.  A distinctive aroma of dry citrus and pine with pungent undertones. Those adverse to “catish” pungency would probably subtract a few more points from the aroma score, but I’m not bothered by it, at least in the way that it is presented in this beer. 

Body/flavor- The flavor is largely reflective of the aroma in Blind Pig IPA.  At 6.1% abv, this is not a big beer, but it is a flavorful one.  Grapefruit and pine laced lemon resonate on the palate with delicate malty notes intermingling amidst the buoyant late hop flavor.  This beer offers a creative and unique flavor profile  and is a quaffable alcohol level for session purposes.

Finish/Mouthfeel- Pine and bitter citrus notes carry the day with little hint of malt on the back end of this pleasantly bitter finishing beer.

Overall Drinkability- A unique hoppy profile with a relatively low alcohol high and strong complexity make this a go to IPA for light session situations.

Celebrity Likeness- Cameron Diaz.  Interesting but not exactly buxom.   Attractive to most and stunning in eyes and on the palate of some.  Definitely worth a 500ml experiment!