Evil Twin Disco Beer (Red Cap) - Evil Twin Brewing

Cold

Pennsylvania

4.83/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Disco Beer IIPA, Red Cap (Evil Twin)

A: Dark red/copper, very slight haze. Thick tan/beige head with good retention.

S: Fruity, with slight hints of cedar. Herbal. Salty.

T: Sweet, dark (charred?) wood, red apples & slight raisin flavor. Honey/molasses, cured/smoked meat. Wine-y. Flavors usually associated with dark, heavy stouts, porters, etc. but not a heavy beer. For an IIPA, the hop profile is subdued to the point of non-existence; even through the lens of a more balanced beer, the hop profile is distinctly modest and reserved.

M: Smooth, vinuous, velvety. Carbonation is perfectly balanced, serving as a vehicle for flavors rather than an element unto itself, or a mask of undesirable flavors. The 10.5% ABV is practically undetectable; I've had 5.5% beers with more of an alcohol presence.

A: Dark wood, winey fruitiness and ever-so-slight astringence/crispness. Slight honey sweetness balances a reserved hop profile for an extremely well-balanced aftertaste, while a slight dryness that sets in after the flavors have cleared leaves you ready for another sip.

Overall: First, the negative: Disco Beer is woefully mislabeled by Evil Twin. It is not even an English Pale, let alone an Imperial IPA. If anything, it's malt bill trumps it's hop profile, with seems present only as a flavor balance, or an afterthought.

That said, if you cast aside adherence to style guidelines, Disco Beer is absolutely stunning. An outstanding, interesting taste adventure that words simply won't do justice. It's got a little bit of everything going on, but the flavors are melded so well that it never leaves you feeling like the brewer tried to do too much, as often happens with beers like this.

The alcohol is big, to the tune of 10.5%, but it drinks like a session beer. As the beer is consumed, though, the alcohol makes it's presence known through a warmth in the chest, more familiar to a cocktail. That said, though, it's unlikely anyone would session this beer, given its availability, presumed cumulative effect, and price.

Really, I can't say enough good things about this beer. If you see it on a shelf, it's a must try.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 03:30:38 | More by Cold

DRBiser

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-05-2013 23:01:58 | More by DRBiser

taospowder

New Mexico

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

04-22-2013 05:15:43 | More by taospowder

ericj551

British Columbia (Canada)

3.13/5  rDev -24.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

The label says Chardonnay barrels, but it has a red cap so I'm not entirely sure what I'm drinking. Right off the bat the color screams barleywine to me. It's hazy with a decent head. The aroma is moderately dark, fruity malt, leaning much more towards malt than hops. The alcohol is apparent in the aroma, as is a hint of oak. Vinous is a good discription in the flavor, with tons more dark fruit, a bit of caramel and more oak. There is an odd, complex and maybe a little bit sour flavor in the finish, with a lingering sweetness that overpowers the hops. The bitterness is moderate for the strength.

Overall, as an Imperial IPA this beer falls flat. If judged as a barleywine, it's good but not great. The hops are lacking and the best before date of 2015 should have been a clue that this might be the case. I'm glad I dropped $5 on the 12 ounce and not even more on a bomber.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 03:26:37 | More by ericj551

Googs

New York

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

03-21-2013 16:34:44 | More by Googs

EyePeeAyBryan

Arizona

4/5  rDev -3.8%

03-13-2013 19:04:42 | More by EyePeeAyBryan

Texasfan549

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

03-09-2013 01:42:55 | More by Texasfan549

kjkinsey

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

03-09-2013 01:21:47 | More by kjkinsey

digita7693

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

03-03-2013 01:04:27 | More by digita7693

AlexFields

Tennessee

4.05/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pours a murky chestnut brown with an orange hue, thick beige head. Really unique colors and wonderful appearance.

Wow this smells like red grape juice. Thick, syrupy grape juice, and maybe tomato juice too? Like V8. Hints of brown sugary Barleywine type malts too. I've really never smelled anything like this in a beer, pretty wild, smells really good though.

Taste is similar but less pure fruit and more malty Barleywine character. Very complex, and again just a very unusual but very good beer. Finishes fairly bitter but otherwise bares little resemblance to an IPA.

Mouthfeel is super rich, thick and syrupy but also very well carbonated. Excellent.

Strange beer but I love it!

8.1/10

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 03:07:32 | More by AlexFields

tzolandz

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

02-14-2013 16:39:35 | More by tzolandz

Rickythejeweler

Maryland

4.45/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Hazy ruby, 2 fingers off white head, great lacing.

S - Mango, funky pineapple, white grapes, yeast, cherry.

T - Juicy hops, peach, white grapes, mango, strawberry, caramel, funk, slightly bitter/grainy finish.

M - Medium-full bodied, moderate carbonation.

O - Very complex, very drinkable, a must try!

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 21:44:09 | More by Rickythejeweler

spycow

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

01-12-2013 20:10:11 | More by spycow

PopnLoads

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

01-12-2013 00:11:34 | More by PopnLoads

OF001

4.4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

330 mL btl. served at 7C.

Cloudy ruby amber pour with a 3 finger head that fades to a solid 5mm lasting head with spotty but bearably adequate lacing.

Nutty sweet malt with a tanniny acidity. Super complex, too much for my nose so it will have a slightly higher rating than would otherwise be noted (I think I'm getting a cold). Sweet stewed fruit, cooked grapes (not dried to raisins) especially considering the fresh residual sugar note. More of a white wine balance than red despite the chardonnay being done on skins, but it is a white wine grape for a reason.

Initial mild acidity (high for a non-lambics, but considering the YOUNG geuze I've had for elevated tastings lately its nothing, more like an earthy Rioja or a well breathed california pinot noir, or a medium oak Australian cab sauv.) red wine balance. Nice fruitiness, subtle, grape and under developed plums with plenty of good, balanced sugars. Super subtle, a lot that I'm not getting but is well condensed. Complex sugars are a delight and give a lofted rating.

Mouth feel is great. Medium-heavy, with the carbonation giving a creaminess that is perfectly counterbalanced to the acidity and finished with a very light oaking. PERFECT complement to the flavour profile.

White wine note, heavy on a red wine flavour, maybe 'on skins' white; or a super light pinot noir ( Mt. Boucherie perhaps, not as strawberry but fucking close). Just enough oaking but the acidity is not of this beer world. haha, shut up. There is really a blending of the worlds for this one. Its weird and wonderful if underwhelming, but not in a bad way. Few match the mouth feel balance this brings to the flavour, not an easy 5 in that regard but I cannot justify a 4.5.
* and 10.5, LIES! hateful lies! there is no fucking way, I've had 6% beers that are at least twice as boozy as this. I saw the ABV by accident after my initial posting, hence the stars*

Worth the taste, but if you expect beer go elsewhere. If you are a drinker of wines its a weird treat.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 11:25:47 | More by OF001

schopenhauerale

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev -3.8%

12-24-2012 07:35:26 | More by schopenhauerale

ngeunit1

California

4.33/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Copper-red with a finger of frothy off-white head. Fades fairly slowly.

S - Oak, red wine, pine, earthy, floral, grapefruit hops, sweet caramel and caramelized malts, touch of booze.

T - Oak, red wine, grapefruit, pine, earthy, floral hops, some mildly resiny bitterness, sweet caramel and caramelized malts, a bit of booze.

M - Medium-full bodied moderate carbonation. Smooth with a warming, dry, lightly bitter finish.

D - Nicely balanced. Better balanced than the regular version. Everything works together a bit better.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 04:57:49 | More by ngeunit1

DovaliHops

California

4.05/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark cloudy, dark red color with a large off-white head with a reddish-pink hue. Head hangs around for a bit. Scent has some chardonnay notes...although I'm not too sure where the red color comes from. Lovely oak aromas with some fruit notes that aren't necessarily standard for IPAs. Taste is initially slightly tart with some sweet fruity notes... I pick up strawberry. There are some sweet wine-like flavors with flavorful oak. Mouthfeel is full-bodied and slightly creamy. Drinkability is good with ABV well-masked. Overall, a very interesting take on a DIPA. Hefty price tag, but definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 08:44:57 | More by DovaliHops

aztraz

Sweden

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

11-23-2012 23:32:40 | More by aztraz

marlinsfan4

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

11-07-2012 00:44:53 | More by marlinsfan4

oline73

Maryland

4/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I had this on-tap during Baltimore beer week. Served in a sample glass.

Appearance: The beer pours a cloudy reddish dark amber color with a quarter finger of creamy light tan head. The head sticks around quite nicely.

Smell: Quite sweet with some malt and a mild red wine note. There is an overall fruity note that reminds me of sweet red berries.

Taste: This one reminds me of a mild red wine. I'm getting some oak from the barrels along with sweetness from the malt. There berry note shows up here as well. The finish has a hoppy bitterness to it along with the wine.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with really smooth carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: I thought this beer was extremely interesting and very complex. Less hops than is usual for the style, but this is supposed to be an unusual beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-06-2012 22:22:32 | More by oline73

nimrod979

Maryland

3.58/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

330ml bottle poured into a Schlafly snifter.

Appearance: Murky light brown with a slight reddish hue. Big two finger beige foamy head. Retention never quits. 10 mins later and I've still got almost a quarter inch. Spotty lacing here and there.

Aroma: Interesting one here. Picking up everything from some oak, some tannic red wine thing going on, bright citrus hops and deep woody malts.

Taste: First sip walks the line of some tart red fruit and a slightly sweet malt bill. Not unlike some red wines. Some mild orange citrus hits mid-palate. Finishes with a nice oaky woody alcohol. Let this baby warm up. Flavors really start to come out.

Mouthfeel: Rather light and airy given the 10.5% ABV. Light side of medium with some delicate carbonation. I really think this beer would benefit from a thicker mouthfeel.

Overall, I'm not really sure what I should be expecting. Not sure if it's just a little old and losing some hop kick (it is an IPA afterall). Bottle says best before 2015, Puts me to mind of a lighter barleywine. Nothing too over the top, but an interesting beer nonetheless. Not sure if the price point makes it worth seeking out though.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 22:46:47 | More by nimrod979

duceswild

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

10-31-2012 05:25:54 | More by duceswild

mendvicdog

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

10-24-2012 20:11:03 | More by mendvicdog

MasterSki

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle from West Lakeview Liquors. I've had decent success with Evil Twin recently so I figured I'd give this a shot. Served in a tulip.

A - Off-white foam settles to a thick cap with good retention, eventually leaving behind splotchy lacework. Somewhat murky dark brown body, so I'm guessing this was unfiltered?

S - This beer delivers exactly as promising - aged DIPA flavors with vinous notes and light oak. Residual hops are floral (orange blossom?) and occasionally catty, and there's a hint of alcohol, but the wine dominates. I've never had 'Red' Chardonnay, but the flavors here are more evocative of white wine than red.

T - The taste has less overt wine influence, and the bready and crackery malts show up a tad stronger. Again, fruity and floral, slightly aged, hops, some orange citrus, minimal oak, and not much alcohol. The wine flavor has a dry white character to it. Bitterness is fairly restrained.

M - Medium bodied, pleasant carbonation, dry and oaky finish, and minimal alcohol warmth. Pretty nice.

D - As far as barrel-aged DIPAs go, this is one of the best (Jim & Jimmy excluded). Probably not worth $9.50, but easy to drink and delivers exactly what it promises. I wish Evil Twin would date their bottles though, as I can't tell if this is from April or if it's been made a few times.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 14:43:20 | More by MasterSki