Blood Shot - Beer Camp #95 - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

MCG

Massachusetts

4.94/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I see a few reviews without a description, so I'll jump in with the first.

A: The beer pours with a wonderful head of very tight bubbles. At first glance it looks as though it came off a nitro system, however it was a basic CO2 setup. The color appears as a brownish red, however when held to the light the redness glows through. The head on this one doesn't quit, and leaves a terrific lace all the way down.

S: The smell is sweet with only a touch of alcohol, which is quite curious for a beer of this magnitude. The aromas are of fresh tropical fruit and bit pine, which nicely lead into the taste and mouthfeel.

T: Wow, this beer really delivers. The beer was served quite cold, but not even the coldest temperatures could mask this beer's enormous flavors. At first the malty sweetness delights the palate with sweet fruit, but like clockwork it gives way to an enormous hop finish that will leave any hophead looking for more. When it starts warming to an ideal drinking temperature the above statement still holds true, however deeper levels of complexity are revealed: A hint of chocolate, perhaps a bit of cigar smoke, and a rich warming sweetness resonate between sips.

M: Very creamy, and a perfect amount of carbonation. Just fantastic. The lingering hop bitterness demands action in the form of additional drinking.

I've really enjoyed the trend of hybrid beers such as the well hopped imperial amber Nugget Nectar (might as well call it an AIPA) from Tröegs and Hoponius Union (IPL) from Jack's Abby. Blood Shot from Sierra Nevada's Beer Camp 95 has all the characteristics to call it a west-coast imperial red ale; An imperial red ale for the hop lovers of the world. Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

02-24-2013 01:04:26 | More by MCG

sentomaster

Connecticut

4.6/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Served on tap thanks to my buddy Mcg who was one of the winners of the SN beer camp contest.

A- Massive head of very fine bubbles erupts from the garnet body. The bubbles are so fine, thick and creamy that it seems like it must be coming off nitro. Poured into a DFH snifter and almost half the glass is full of foam erupting from the body. Held up to the light the beer is fairly opaque and turns from dark red to a very light red and a stream of carbonation can be seen. Absolutely gorgeous beer.

S- Hops and malt fight it out- hops win. Strong aromas of resinous grapefruit and tropical fruit mix with a touch of tobacco. The malt imparts a nice counterpart in a sweet sugar cookie smell.

T/M- Follows the nose closely. The malts lose a little more clearly in taste than they did in the nose, but still provide the necessary balance to the monolithic wall of hops. The tobacco/smoke is more pronounced than in the nose also. A slight grainy/huskiness rides along with the sweetness. The alcohol is almost completely hidden minus a slight warming sensation after it goes down. The body is on the heavier side of medium and the beer is carried along amply by the hefty carbonation. As the fresh hop flavors of raw passionfruit mingle with a fading caramel sweetness, the beer finishes quite clean and bright; leaving you ready for another sip.

O- This is a monster of a beer and completely unique. Dangerously drinkable and so unlike anything else. I can't wait for this to be released in national distribution.

Serving type: on-tap

03-16-2013 00:26:58 | More by sentomaster