Red-oric - Beer Camp #65 (Best Of Beer Camp: Imperial Red Ale) - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

blackcompg

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from their 12oz bottle from their beer camp sampler...

Appearance - Poured nearly 3 fingers of lite-orange khaki colored head, already lacing as the head begins to recede a bit, color of the body is almost red but really more of a burnt orange color, incredible zebra-striped lacing coats the entire glass after the session.

Smell - Sweet, ripe red ruby grapefruit, fresh baked bread, fruitcake, full bready malt, figs, ripe plums, slight floral hops - really smells good.

Taste - Wow, HUGE floral hops at the front, ripe ruby red grapefruit juice, bready malt and breadcrusts. All this rides along a backbone of slightly burnt toffee, and faint figs and ripe plums. Longer into the finish is grapefruit pith and a second huge burst of floral hops.

Mouthfeel - Very smooth at the beginning, nearly medium, then a just below medium carb does a light scrub on the palate, with some surprisingly sharp edges at the sides of the tongue, the finish is on the bitter dry side, but there are still some dark fruits and hops in the mouth corners, flavors linger way long...extraordinarily drinkable, although I find myself contemplative after each sip...

Overall - Really complex and well balanced brew, and a very pleasant surprise, really has the best of a dipa, an apa, and a red ale all rolled into one. Big bold flavors, not overly sweet - a really nice beer to enjoy with the onset of the cooler weather - enjoying this one during Monday Night Football - get the sampler pack, I think you'll like this one.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 03:55:49 | More by blackcompg

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

05-20-2013 16:04:40 | More by InspectorBob

Iamstryker

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%

05-12-2013 03:25:55 | More by Iamstryker

cadaugherty

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -14.2%

05-09-2013 00:06:25 | More by cadaugherty

Jadjunk

Georgia

4.03/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

"This Imperial Red Ale takes the intense hop profile found in a traditional double IPA and turns up the malt. It has big aromatic hop notes of grapefruit, peach, and melon- balanced by a smooth and surprisingly robust malt body." Brewed in the style of an American Amber / Red Ale, liberally hopped. Available as part of the 2012 Sierra Nevada best of Beer Camp. No bottle date, released in August 2012.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to a Sierra Nevada snifter. Served north of 51º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a beige-white head of a semi-thick, creamy consistency. Lacing is thin and curtained, body color is a deep amber red with a medium haze and thin sediment in tow. Carbonation is subtle and relaxed. It's a rather pleasing appearance with no major shortcomings. 3.75

(Smell) Aroma is citrusy, fruity, resiny, floral hops forward, with touches of tangerine, grapefruit, and lemon zest. Malt body is just as dominant, with a pinch of bready malt character, a moderate sweetness and a wafting edge of graininess that complicates an otherwise clean, lively beer. Smells just balanced in the nose, there's a pinch of grain alcohol but otherwise this beer is very accessible. The potency is medium+. The aroma is overall very inviting. 4

(Taste) Despite being a hopped-up version of a Red Ale, this beer matches the hop donation with a charitable dose of malt depth and aggressiveness. The hop character is definitely more assertive and forward in the flavor, with slightly less emphasis on citrus and fruit in lieu of a piney and earthy hop blend. Malt body is notably rugged with a moderate grainy persona, seconded by a mellow roasted caramel, slick molasses and licorice sweetness. The beer finishes with a rustic grain, alcohol and lasting piney resinous hop finish. Very flavorful and bold. Although much of the bright citrusy and fruity hop characters are misinterpreted through the aroma, what remains is still very influential on the build of this flavorful beer. 4.25

(Mouthfeel) Carbonation makes for a fuzzy, spritely texture. The graininess and hop presence gather a strictly dry finish. Body is medium/high for the style and medium/high overall. Alcohol presence is medium/high as well. It's a pretty filling and heavy beer, no doubt. I found the carbonation turned up a bit too high for this one- I don't find that it accurately reflects the malt bill nor the hop choices. 3.25

(Overall) A welcome addition to an often overlooked style, the beefed-up hop additions and specialty grain bill make for a far-more-than-mundane drinking experience in this beer. Age hasn't negatively impacted this one in the least, and the hop character is still potent as ever. So far, it's my choice beer of the pack. A well-assembled recipe, kudos to the original brewer for pushing the boundaries of what a Red Ale is capable of. 4

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company's
Beer Camp #65: Imperial Red Ale
4.03/5.00

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 18:55:32 | More by Jadjunk

blknikon

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +5.5%

04-30-2013 19:52:23 | More by blknikon

BlakeAM

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

04-20-2013 17:24:01 | More by BlakeAM

Chucker17

South Dakota

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

03-19-2013 18:19:20 | More by Chucker17

jbeezification

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

03-16-2013 18:00:04 | More by jbeezification

Zachtheporter

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +5.5%

03-13-2013 05:37:24 | More by Zachtheporter

jamiecoppin

North Dakota

3/5  rDev -20.8%

03-10-2013 17:33:25 | More by jamiecoppin

Gonzoillini

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

03-09-2013 03:09:40 | More by Gonzoillini

SenorHops

Rhode Island

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

03-06-2013 20:31:56 | More by SenorHops

DIPAFAN

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

02-18-2013 20:43:33 | More by DIPAFAN

Thedrizzle

Florida

4/5  rDev +5.5%

02-16-2013 00:46:30 | More by Thedrizzle

tsco7

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +18.7%

02-13-2013 18:57:30 | More by tsco7

isualum12

Idaho

3.1/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Look light red. Nice head.
Smell is alright.
Taste is less then I expected. It is not the best red I have had this season. Bitter with sour flavor. I was abletorelax though with this beer.

Very carbonated.

Overall not my favorite. Severalotherbeer camp beers are better this season.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 03:53:27 | More by isualum12

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.51/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured a clear deep brown color ale with a large foamy head with good retention and minimal lacing. Aroma of citrus and earthy hops with some caramelized malt notes. Taste is dominated by some citrus and earthy hops with some good notes of caramelized malt notes with medium sweet notes. Body is about average for style with good carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Not bad but a bit short on complexity and hops punch could be more pronounced.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 03:52:57 | More by Phyl21ca

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.44/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

355ml bottle purchased from Leura Cellars.

Pours pretty much the perfect colour: deep ruby hued, with a frothy off-white head consisting of large bubbled honeycombed together. Lacing leaves fine tracings as the head settles down. Body is quite weighty, with some heft to provide a thick canvas for the fine bubbling that expresses itself when tilted. Overall, it's a really good looking beer.

Nose is clear and clean, but not as big and exciting as I'd hoped. Mild, smooth faintly fruity hop aromas mingle with a muted caramel malt character to give a red ale aroma that feels like it's just going through the motions. Some brighter, leafier characters come through when the beer is swirled, along with the faintest hint of slight roast. It's not bad, but it really should be significantly better given its pedigree.

Taste is similar: mildly fragrant hops, blended with a rather empty but noticeable malt presence. Some booze on the back kills everything quickly though, leaving a rather astringent emptiness that allows the hop bitterness to slice through on the back—this is despite the fact that the hop flavour is actually rather minimal. Faint acetone character on the finish, mingled with some crushed grass.

Feel is fine, although the lack of sweetness suggests a lack of body as well, even though it probably feels ok.

Overall, I'm woundedly disappointed by this. I love red ales (imperial all the better), and I really hoped that Sierra Nevada would give me a better example than this. While it's still decent enough, "decent enough" is far below the benchmark set for Sierra Nevada.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 06:22:47 | More by lacqueredmouse

Gmann

New York

3.49/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Pours a murky reddish brown color, muddy. The tan head is thick and fluffy, slowly disipates and leaves some nice lacing.

The aroma is sweet. Loads of toffee and caramel to go along with a tropical fruit and apricot hop presence. Grassy and peppery as well.

The malt is bready and sweet. Honey notes to go along with a light nuttiness. A hint of toffee. The hops are grassy, peppery and have a resin finish. Some tropical fruit notes but not much. Old school hoppy amber ale.

Moderate feel with tingly carbonation, lays slightly limp on the palate. Sweet and bitter on the palate. They offset each other but cannot say its balanced. Definitely has a bitter finish. Drinks well.

Slightly above average amber. Except for the head, not very attractive looking. Straight up bitter amber ale.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 16:59:39 | More by Gmann

Element1290

Rhode Island

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

01-31-2013 17:36:14 | More by Element1290

JasonSiedman

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

01-31-2013 02:00:17 | More by JasonSiedman

M1A2

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +18.7%

01-30-2013 19:52:22 | More by M1A2

Roger85

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.5%

01-30-2013 00:26:41 | More by Roger85

KillaB

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

01-29-2013 05:32:52 | More by KillaB