Based in Auburn California, Knee Deep Brewing has been around since mid-2010. They started contract brewing out of another facility, and only sold their beers in kegs. 7 years later, they now operate a 28,000 square foot facility and produce 16 year round offerings, along with seasonal releases and small batches only available in their tasting room.

Breaking Bud is a West Coast IPA brewed with 3 different hop varieties and won a Bronze Medal for American IPA’s at the 2016 Great American Beer Festival.

ABV: 6.5% IBU’s: 50

Head: A small off white head forms and leaves some lacing as it fades away.

Pour: A golden honey color, slightly hazy with light carbonation.

Nose: A big hop presence. Hints of fruit but mostly notes of lemon and a little tangerine.

Palate: Very mild considering the amount of pine on the nose. Medium bodied with a sharp but quick hop flavor before a smooth finish. There’s almost no acidity on the finish giving it a very airy feel.

Overall: Really enjoyable, I was expecting a very hop forward IPA from the nose but this was surprisingly mellow. A solid IPA that was very easy to drink. Fans of super hoppy IPA’s may want a little more, but the combination of a hoppy start and airy finish make a great combination.

Beer Buyer Overall Rating: 4 Out Of 5 Pints