Refuge Brewing Grapefruit IPA

Beer Name: Grapefruit IPA
Brewery: Refuge Brewing Co. (Temecula, CA)
ABV: 7.7%
How sold: 16 oz. tallboy cans; on draft
Where bought: Craft Shack (San Diego, CA)
Price: $2.99 for 16 oz. tallboy

Date Purchased: May 10, 2016
Date Opened/Drank: May 20, 2016
IBUs: 77

What's on the Can/Website: "We love IPAs just as much as anyone, and we especially love dank, citrus-packed hop bombs. We've brewed a lot of them in the past few years, but we were always left wanting a bigger citrus punch. So, one summer day, we took a page out of the recipe book of our flagship beer, Blood Orange Wit, and wrangled up the brew crew once again. This time, we took a trip to our local Temecula citrus farms to pick some grapefruit. The result is what we have here; a bitter, hoppy IPA infused with real grapefruit juice, fresh squeezed by yours truly!" Read more here!

When brewed? Currently limited quantities, but increasing production through 2016.

Where distributed: Refuge Brewing has shipped this beer only to select markets in Southern California (San Diego, Inland Empire, Los Angeles, and Orange County). Check to see whether this beer can be found in your area!

REVIEW:

Appearance (5%): Poured hazy orange-golden into a pint glass. Off-white head. 4.25/5

Smell (25%): Tons of grapefruit, with additional tropical-citrus notes and floral notes. 4.25/5

Taste (40%): Intense grapefruit, no mistaking it. Otherwise, a very balanced beer with smooth malt, controlled bitterness, floral notes, and some dankness. I love the grapefruit hoppiness from start to finish here. 4.25/5

Mouthfeel (10%): Medium-bodied; velvety on the tongue. Bitterness lingers just a little bit in a good way. Some carbonation. 4.25/5

Overall (20%): An excellent IPA. One that I looked forward to given its limited distribution (so far) and my love for anything grapefruit. In my book, there are still a few (elite) grapefruit IPAs that rank above this one, but Refuge Brewing holds its own very nicely here. Very much appreciating the grapefruit-forward nature of this beer but the balance of all other characteristics is still noticeable. It's very drinkable and one I could enjoy more than one of on a hot summer day. 4.25/5

Final Weighted Rating: 4.25/5