Sample Session – Russell Brewing Company
Craft beer producers and the brewers behind them have their own distinct styles and tendencies. Our friend Kendra and her team at PK Promotions hooked us up with some Russell Brewing Company samples and we picked up on a distinctive quality among the three beers we tried: hops. The team at Russell uses a flavourful variety of hops across the board. We thought it would be worth sharing a little more about each of the beers we got to taste. We’ve ordered the beers from our most to our least favourite below:
HOP THERAPY INDIA SESSION ALE (ISA)
ABV: 4.5% IBU: 35
Brett: We’re big fans of hops and we love what IPAs have to offer, but ISAs offer something really special – you can enjoy more of them, and when done right, they have refreshing qualities that are harder to find in a soapier IPA. Brewed with Amarillo, Cascade, and Columbus hops, Russell’s Hop Therapy with is one of the best I’ve had to date.
BLOOD ALLEY EXTRA SPECIAL BITTER (ESB)
ABV: 5.5% IBU: 50
Chris: In line with Russell Brewing’s hop-forward motto, this Brewmaster Series beer is bitter, but has a solid balance of malts to keep things even. For the IPA fan that is looking to try an ESB, or for the ESB fan looking to mix it up, this beer is a good bet.
EASTERN PROMISES CZECH PILSNER
ABV: 5% IBU: 35
Chris: Coming from someone who isn’t a fan of pilsners, this beer isn’t bad. The crisp flavour that is standard for pilsners is backed by a solid mix of Pilsner, Caramel Vienna, and Munich Malts. The finish is where it gets interesting, with the added kick of Saaz hops. Again, pilsners aren’t my favourite, but this beer is worth a try.
Russell Brewing has been in the business of making quality craft beer for twenty years. It’s safe to say the company has honed its recipes and certified itself as a both a pioneer and specialist in the bustling British Columbian craft beer market.
Cheers (with a full pint of hops) and thanks again to PK Promotions for samples from their client at Russell Brewing. Keep in the loop with other beer tasting events by PK Promo on their website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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