Well, here’s a beer from yet another brewery that’s new (to me anyway): Blowing Rock IPA from the Blowing Rock Brewing Company of Blowing Rock, North Carolina. I picked this one up in my travels through the state recently. Blowing Rock has been in business since 2013, but as previously stated, this is the first time I have come across their beer.

Blowing Rock IPA fit into the category of many of the IPAs I’ve found from the western part of the state: malty, with delicious resiny citrusy hops. In other words, classic American IPA ala 1990s, as if someone picked up a slice of the Pacific Northwest from those days and transplanted it into North Carolina.

The brewery says this about Blowing Rock IPA on their website:

Our Blowing Rock IPA exhibits a brilliant copper color through the incorporation of North American 2-Row and other specialty malts. Kettle hopping provides evident but not overwhelming hop bitterness while the finish and dry hopping offers elegant hop complexity. Citrus and floral notes are balanced with a slight hint of caramel malt. This IPA is full-bodied and flavorful, yet thoughtfully integrated.

Blowing Rock IPA has an alcohol content of 6.2% by volume with 73 IBUs and was running $7.99 a sic pack in bottles, 50 cents more in cans when I got mine.

Blowing Rock IPA pours to a bright orange amber color with a thick rocky head of foam and an invigorating nose of resiny pine. Taking a sip, I get thick caramel malt infused with citrus, resiny pine and grassy herbal hop notes all leading into a long, dry lingering bitterness. Yet another wonderful Western North Carolina IPA that has malt and classic hops.

A truly delightful classic IPA worthy of a 4 star rating on its own merits, but I can’t help but kick it up a half star for the bargain basement price.