Boneyard RPM IPA
1 log on Brewskipotatoes
Tasting Notes
RPM pours with a pronounced hop aroma built around citrus peel, pine resin, and a faint tropical undercurrent — classic Pacific Northwest raw material. On the palate, bitterness arrives firmly but doesn't bludgeon; there's enough pale malt backbone to keep things balanced rather than austere. The body sits in a medium range, neither watery nor heavy, which lets the hop character carry through to a dry, moderately bitter finish that lingers without turning harsh. It's a well-structured West Coast IPA that plays the style straight.
About the Brewery
Boneyard Beer is based in Bend, Oregon, a city that punches well above its size in craft brewing. Founded in 2010 by Tony Lawrence, the brewery built its reputation largely on RPM itself, which became one of the more recognized IPAs coming out of the Pacific Northwest regional scene. Boneyard operates out of a repurposed auto shop and has maintained a relatively focused, hop-forward lineup rather than chasing every trend.
Food Pairings
The firm bitterness and citrus-resin hop profile here cut through fat particularly well, making it a natural match for a burger with sharp cheddar, where the hops scrub the richness and reset the palate. Spicy dishes — tacos with fresh salsa or Thai green curry — work because the hop aromatics complement heat without amplifying it. A soft-ripened cheese like brie offers a creamy contrast that lets the bitter finish land more cleanly. Fish and chips also pair well, since the carbonation and bitterness mirror what a squeeze of lemon does to fried fish.
Style Guide
The American IPA diverged from its English ancestor by leaning heavily on American and later Southern Hemisphere hop varieties, producing beers defined by citrus, pine, and tropical fruit aromas rather than the earthier, more restrained character of British hops. Bitterness levels are assertive — typically in the 40–70 IBU range — but the best examples balance that against a clean, neutral malt base rather than using malt sweetness as a counterweight. ABVs generally run from around 6% to 7.5%, putting this squarely in the middle of the range. The West Coast sub-style, which this beer represents, emphasizes dryness and resinous hop clarity over the hazier, softer texture associated with New England IPAs.