Big Red Coq - Brewery Vivant

DJSpidey

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I was expecting a bit more from this than what is delivered flavor-wise--it seemed weaker/"less-intensely-flavored" than other similar beers made in this style which I have tried (e.g. Ale Asylum's Bedlam! or Belgo from New Belgium) ; maybe I would like this more if it was made as a double instead?

Besides this weakness, it was as I expected it to be in nose, color, and so on. It's not a bad beer, and I enjoyed it more than their Triomphe IPA (this brew seems to remove the "harsher" edges of the Triomphe while keeping the good parts IMHO of an American IPA), but enjoyed it less than their Farm Hand ale or their Brune or Solitude brews.

Serving type: on-tap

10-14-2011 03:44:36 | More by DJSpidey

NJB145

Michigan

4/5  rDev +3.1%

05-19-2013 01:09:35 | More by NJB145

HisBoyElroy

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

05-15-2013 22:19:58 | More by HisBoyElroy

Alextricity

Michigan

4.08/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

No canning date. $3.49 for a 16oz can. Poured into S.A. Perfect Pint Glass

Appearance: What the hell. I barely moved the can, but even then, I poured it into a glass and the whole pint glass filled with foam with maybe an ounce of beer. Because the head wouldn't go anywhere, I had to spoon out a bunch of foam. Big Red Coq is a beautiful, hazy red color with a light tan, creamy head, and great lacing. I give it a 3 for appearance though because I had to spoon the equivalent of three ounces of beer out of my glass. Looks great after that though.

Smell: It smells a touch Belgian, but it's not much. There are plenty of hops and malts to go around in the aroma. The hops are mostly grassy, and the malt gives a sweet note to make it even more inviting. Smells fantastic.

Taste/feel: Quite interesting. That slight, Belgian sourness is definitely there, but it's not too much. The hops aren't as "bursting" as I thought they'd be, judging by the taste. The malt flavor is of caramel and sweetness, and it works well. This is an odd beer, and I'm not sure how to describe it, but it's really good. This is sour, sweet, and a bit bitter. The aroma makes Big Red Coq smell like an IPA (I wish MINE did...), but the taste is distinctively Belgian. For some reason, it's difficult for me to pull out specific flavors in this beer. It's just interesting. It's like a red in that it has plenty of the malt and sweetness that you'd expect, IPA-esque in that it smells like one and has a pretty significant hop flavor, and then it tastes Belgian because of the yeast. As it warms up, the sourness becomes more prominent. The feel on this beer is middle of the road, with a pretty active-but-pleasant carbonation.

This is unlike any other beer I've had before... an amber with more hops than usual, and Belgian yeast. Extremely unhelpful review, but I CAN tell you that it's a very tasty beer that's worth picking up if you can.

Serving type: can

05-07-2013 14:49:28 | More by Alextricity

leprechaunandfatman

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.1%

04-06-2013 18:32:14 | More by leprechaunandfatman

deuce9259

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

04-06-2013 03:14:49 | More by deuce9259

ShawneeIrish

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

04-05-2013 04:02:40 | More by ShawneeIrish

MallyOMight

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -16.2%

03-27-2013 07:37:19 | More by MallyOMight

wyatt13

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.1%

03-18-2013 23:52:59 | More by wyatt13

rjcoy06

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%

03-16-2013 15:55:14 | More by rjcoy06

Michigan

Michigan

4/5  rDev +3.1%

02-19-2013 04:55:25 | More by Michigan

akttr

Michigan

3/5  rDev -22.7%

02-16-2013 00:25:55 | More by akttr

fgilbert2

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +16%

02-09-2013 05:03:35 | More by fgilbert2

avalonct

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%

02-08-2013 01:24:59 | More by avalonct

emilylee

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

01-27-2013 05:09:51 | More by emilylee

strohme2

Michigan

4/5  rDev +3.1%

01-26-2013 02:32:41 | More by strohme2

SportsandJorts

Michigan

3.59/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Type: 16 oz can
Glass: Pint
From: Meijer
Price: around $10 a 4 pack

Appearance: deep red not quite clear but not opaque. huge foamy head that slowly recedes to a lacing on the sides

Smell- Hoppy, very hoppy, some caramelly malts and a touch of belgian yeast

Taste-the hops aren't as aggressive as in the nose but still there and strong. the belgian yeast is stronger than in the nose and caramel malts are the backbone. I would prefer the highlight to be the yeast rather than hops but that is my opinion.

Mouthfeel: a little bitter and sticky aftertaste but in a good way. pretty light in body with higher carbonation

Overall: pretty good beer. I like the cross over belgian-american beer. i would prefer the yeast to dominate but thats just me. Another good beer from Vivant which does little wrong to me. Glad I tried it but it might be a while before I revisit this one

Serving type: can

01-18-2013 02:14:12 | More by SportsandJorts

jadedlilmonkey

Michigan

4/5  rDev +3.1%

01-08-2013 10:39:58 | More by jadedlilmonkey

Lynn

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%

01-05-2013 23:30:34 | More by Lynn

MDF1IBetty

3/5  rDev -22.7%

01-03-2013 01:17:33 | More by MDF1IBetty

hopswap1

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.1%

12-30-2012 21:26:53 | More by hopswap1

CloudStrife

New York

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16oz can poured into a tulip.

A: Pours an opaque reddish gold with a 1 finger off white head. Some visible carbonation in the body. Head sticks around for a minute or two leaving some lacing.

S: Lot going on with the smell here. There is belgian yeast flat out up front, but also a hopping on top of that and a solid almost sweet carmely malt backing.

T: Balanced comes to mind as I take my first sip. Has a smooth malty taste balanced by some yeast and hops. I'd say malt lingers more in the aftertaste

M: Full bodied with lots of carbonation. Has a nice clean finish, easy drinking.

Overall this is a beer I could enjoy on a regular basis. Has the Belgian drinkability with some amped up American malts and hops.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 03:29:58 | More by CloudStrife

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.53/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

16 oz can courtesy of mseguin pours a hazed crimson color with a large, stcky cap of beige head. Nice retention and lacing.

Nose is grapefruit and pine with a toasted caramel malt. The Belgian yeast that made Triomphe so appealing seems to be missing here.

Taste is nicely hopped with plenty of both flavoring and bittering, malt is more toasty than sweet and the Belgian yeast is unfortunately tame. This one is not as tasty as Triomphe, but stil goes down fairly easy. It could use a bump in body and yeast presence.

Serving type: can

12-21-2012 23:58:01 | More by twiggamortis420

Thorpe429

Illinois

2.73/5  rDev -29.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Can courtesy of my parents. Served in a sampler glass. The nose brings a bit of light black pepper along with some strong citrus and tropical hops. Flavor isn’t quite as nice, as more of the yeast comes along, and doesn’t quite fit with the hop and malt profile. Body is medium and fairly bitter and dry. Pretty good, but not something I’d necessarily seek out again.

Serving type: can

12-15-2012 18:42:46 | More by Thorpe429

jduprey007

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%

12-15-2012 14:35:30 | More by jduprey007