We’ve all heard the phrase “Less is more,” right? Well, it’s wrong. Absolutely wrong. More is more. Rogue Farms 7 Hop IPA features--you guessed it--seven hop varieties grown by Rogue. It also exclusively uses malts grown at Rogue Farms. The slogan for Rogue Farms is “Grow the Revolution” and this IPA is grown and produced within a 200 mile radius, which is almost unheard of in the beer world. The 7 Hop IPA clocks in at 8.02% ABV, and a whopping 90 IBU.
Color – Beautiful golden amber to gold color, clear to semi clear.
Aroma – Sweet malt, earthy, floral hops, tropical fruits, pineapple, grapefruit, green mango, candied orange peel, resinous pine.
Taste & Mouthfeel – Orange pith, resinous pine, orange marmalade, earthy hops, floral hops, grapefruit, lingering hop bitterness, medium bodied, finishes dry.
Overall – Wow! This was quite a surprise. The malt backbone holds up well against the barrage of hops with a definite linger of bitterness. This IPA is quite balanced. A very impressive offering , made even more appealing by the use of Rogue Farm’s very own farmed malts and hops.
Letter Grade – A The Rogue Farms 7 Hop IPA is fantastically hoppy and reasonably priced. The balance of the beer is almost unbelievable and reminiscent of Ballast Point’s Sculpin or, dare I even say it, Pliny the Elder from Russian River Brewing Company (with a hint of Blind Pig IPA, also from Russian River Brewing Company). Rogue nailed it. This IPA far exceeded my expectations based on previous Rogue offerings (Voodoo Doughnut Maple Bacon). Definitely worth a try and remember, life is too short to drink light lagers. Drink what ales you.