Red Hare brewing of Marietta, Georgia is on a roll! For starters, they recently announced that their Sticky Stout, formerly a Rabbit’s Reserve special release, will now be a winter seasonal beer sold in six-pack cans. Will that be the case for Red Hare Equinox Fresh Hop IPA as well? Only time will tell.
Equinox is Red Hare’s fall seasonal, and they’ve gone with a “red IPA” if you will in lieu of the traditional Marzenbier or amber ale. Still, this is a harvest inspired beer using freshly harvested hops and they do incorporate some of the malt character of more traditional fall brews. This beer is Red Hare’s eighth release in their Rabbit’s Reserve series of beers and they describe it as follows on their website:
Released September 2014. Equinox Fresh Hopped IPA is a celebration of the fall hop harvest. Fresh Equinox hops harvested in Oregon give this IPA citrus, tropical, floral, and herbal notes and aromas. Aptly names (sic), this brew mirrors the crisp, fresh fall weather.
Red Hare Equinox Fresh Hop IPA has an alcohol content of 7.6% by volume and 75 IBUs. Its draft only, and I paid $6.75 for a 20-ounce mug at Taco Mac. A bit above average, that.
Red Hare Equinox Fresh Hop IPA pours to a slightly reddish amber color with a big fruity nose ripe with passion fruit. Taking a sip I get big caramel maltiness in the palate with some fall friendly toasty nuttiness going on too. The hops come in at the last, grassy and herbal with notes of citrus and tropical fruits. A long dry bitter finish rounds it all out on this very tasty fall IPA.
This is really grew on me as I sipped. The fruitiness works with the caramel and full mouthfeel to remind me of a caramel apple, if a sticky caramel apple were rolled in hops. It even becomes a little buttery as it warms.
I matched this with an order of Cracked Pepper Cayenne wings. They were simply delicious and when you bite them they bite you back! Truly perfect with my Equinox IPA. Does it get better than wings and beer? Yes, wings beer and football. But it doesn't get much better than that.....
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft