Elector Imperial Red Ale - New Albanian Brewing Company - Pizzeria and Public House

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

4.13/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served on tap in a regular pint glass

Pours clear deep red with a nice head and decent retention. Not much on the nose but a decent scent of caramel and earthy malt notes. Taste is smooth and flavorful, very malty but not heavy at all which I expected from the word imperial. easy to drink and hides the 7% quite well. Flavor is well rounded and not really out of the box but well done and certainly memorable. This is readily available in my area and I will surely order it again in the future.

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2012 01:14:32 | More by TwelveOunces

nrbw23

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Pours a deep dark red with a nice foamy cream colored head. Head has pretty solid retention and leaves some nice layered lacing.

S- Smell is a bit of piney hops, quite a bit of dark fruits, toffee, and bready malts.

T- Hops are more apparent than I expected, and creates a good balance between the hops and malts. A nice amount of toffee, light on the dark fruits and a great amount of biscuit.

M- Fuller side of medium in body and on the lighter side of carbonation.

O- Not too bad of a brew by any means.

Serving type: on-tap

04-15-2012 01:31:53 | More by nrbw23

Badbobx

Indiana

3.83/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

At Tomlinson Tap, I received this brew in a glass tulip. The color was a light amber. There was about a 1/2 inch of foam. An intense lacing followed this well carbonated beer.
The aroma was rich with hops. I was sensing grapefruit and some ginger.
The taste was an intense tangy citrus with a bit of a bite. I could taste a bit of the malts initially, but the hops overwhelmed.
The characteristic I most enjoyed was the mouthfeel. There was a lot of carbonation to this beer that gave a full foamy sensation that was very pleasing.
This was only my third encounter with New Albanian beers, but I am certain to try more. I especially liked the finish.

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2011 11:57:25 | More by Badbobx

alleykatking

Indiana

4.15/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap at Barley Island Tasting Room in Broad Ripple.

A- Pours a deep amber color. One finger white head shows good retention. Sheet style lacing on the sides of the glass.

S- Big malty aroma to this one. Caramel, toffee, and something else I can't quite put my finger on. Bitter piney hops in the ending of the aroma. Simple but works very well.

T- Huge amber style taste to begin with. Lots of deep caramel taste with notes of toffee. There seems to be a almost roasted malt (very light) in the middle of the beer. Nice hop bitter bite toward the ending of the beer that helps to counterbalance the maltly sweetness.

M- Medium mouthfeel. Carbonation is good for the style. Deep caramel malts with a hint of hop balance on the palate. Aftertaste is mostly caramel malts with a hint of alcohol and faded bitter hops. This beer is balanced toward the malty side which it should be for the style. No off flavors were present. Medium alcohol drying on the palate.

D- This beer was a nice drinking beer. I could see having a couple pints of this easy. The flavors were bold but not over the top fo this Imperial Red Ale. ABV doesn't seem this high since the alcohol is not present at all in the beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-02-2011 20:28:33 | More by alleykatking

JamesS

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a very nice copper color with decent head and nice lacing. Very nice deep malty aroma, complex usage of malts (guessing several malts went into this). Very nice malty flavors, slight hints of roasted grain along with great sweet caramel flavors from (maybe) high crystal grains. Went down very well, a nice strong red ale.

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2010 21:31:25 | More by JamesS

JToad

Indiana

4.33/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap at Chumley's Beer House in Broad Ripple.

Pours a dark amber, with slight clarity and a nice white head,with decent lacing.

Smells of fresh hops, bitter and piney. Crisp and clean nose.

Hop bitterness right up front, with a smoothe malty backbone to balance out the drinkability, which is thru the roof on this hoppy beer. The malts sweeten out the overall taste, but make no mistakes, this brew has hops!

Honestly, I loved this beer. Very complex for a Imperial Red/IPA. If I can find this near me, I might have to keep this a staple in my fridge. Im suprised this doesnt get more mentioning on here. Very tasty beer. I loved it.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2010 15:45:37 | More by JToad

Tone

Missouri

3.53/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear, dark amber color. 1/3 inch head of an off-white color. Good retention and good lacing. Smells of grain, yeast, sweet malt, and slight hops. Fits the style of an American Red Ale better than an American IPA. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp with an average carbonation level. There is also a noticeable bitterness. Tastes of floral hops, sweet malt, slight grain, and slight yeast. Overall, body is stronger up front then mellows out, better than average red, but weak IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

05-03-2010 03:47:06 | More by Tone

baos

Indiana

4.05/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this one on tap at Shallos

A: Nice dark golden color. Half finger almost champagne bubble head. Nice subtle lacing.

S: Hmmm rather musty and herbal. With strange almost soy malt notes.

T: Not as hoppy as I was told. Rather mild really. Very well balanced. Pretty yeasty for a pale ale, but this work well. I wasn't expecting the range of flavors with this one. Dank musty malts and herbal hop leaves that ends with a citrus dryness.

M: Big carbonation with oily hop dryness.

D: Very nice.

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2010 00:04:45 | More by baos

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served cold in a tulip pint at the Brewpub in New Albany.

A - Medium Amber when held to the light w/ a very thin cream colored head. The head appears frothy and spotty w/ lacing that is semi-sticky. The clarity of this ale is slightly hazy which is partly from the chill and part hoppy oil clouding I am guessing.

S - Very floral and fruity w/ nice aroma hops that have pungent odors and the yeast esters make this a bit peculier,yet very enticing. Not much for a malt scent but there is a sweet back w/ the nose that is a very pleasant blend of aromas, both herbal and citrusy.

M - Oily from generous hopping, smooth and spiced w/ more floral light hop sweetness that seems to levitate above the malts which have sweet tinges, but are very well conjoined in the balance.

T - A very well made red, must be Imperial becaouse it behaves like an IPA, yet all the sweet berry from the malt and yeast esters makes this stunning. There is a tinge of biscuit with nice toasted malt notes. I am the the teacher in Louisville recommended this place. The herbal hops almost like a ricola in a sense really strive to coexist in the hop/malt interdependence that makes this beer great. Very pleasant blend of sweet amber malt and spicy yet not overly bitter flavored hops makes this intriguing to my taste. A flavorful orange, possibly valencia comes out as the ale warms w/ a nice peppery spice that accentuated the hop + malt sweetness w/ a slight tannic element much like herbal tea w/ dried red fruit that has been overbrewed. I presume it is hop bitterness I am picking up, but I am not totally sure.

D - This is a very good strong red ale, Imperial even. This has great hops, but the malt is less supportive and the hops take the spotlight. This has very good drinkability. The hops start floral and move toward spicy and tannic close to the end of the pint. I think this is a gem in NABC's lineup of ales. I certainly would not hesitate to seek this out. I like the name Elector, I would just prefer more support from the malt.

Serving type: on-tap

04-16-2008 15:21:35 | More by Slatetank

GreenWBush

Oregon

3.48/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Deep gold, few swarths of lace.

Nose reminds me of a creaky floorboard, pennies, and insanely penetrating herbal hop-leaf, coffee. The malt underneath is altogether odd-ball, instantly reminding me of homebrewed English strong-ales. Looks and smells a bit like an English take on Lost Coast's Indica IPA. More chlorophyll tastes - canned greenbeans.

Taste redeems the beer, quite hoppy, but also quite English in nature. Spicy and peppery too, which seem sort of out of place for an IPA of this type.

Smooth, and relatively drinkable. I highly prefered the Hoptimus.

Serving type: on-tap

04-17-2006 21:05:30 | More by GreenWBush

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.93/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Deeply malted and assertively hopped, this bolsterous ale balances hop bitterness of IPAs up against imperialized Red Ale flavors for a culmination that puts it on par with American Strong Ales.

Redish brown hue carries a mild dry-hopped haze that allows for a mystic glow of crimson and bronze. Creamy sandy-colored foam builds a dense and formitable head before reducing to a thick sheet across the glass while leaving an interconnected weave of islands along the glass.

Malty-rich aromas of caramel, toffee, sun kissed barley malt, peanuts, medium toast, and soft butterscotch notes accompany a light citrusy grapefruit scent that balances the nose and offers an element of intrigue.

Flavors are moreso balanced because of the on slaught of hop flavor at mid palate and sharp bitterness late. But the beer begins much like the aroma: malty rich with bold malt sweetness that takes the shape of caramel, toffee, butterscotch, bread crust, and sun dried barley for flavors that even remind me of maple syrup. But the malt flavors lessen underneath the penetration of grapefruity hops which carry a pungent grassy, piney, orange, resiny taste before the biting bitterness to finish off the taste profile. A spicy note of woods and cinnamon also decorate the peripheries of flavor and continue to develop as the beer warms and the carbonation subsides.

Very rich for both an IPA and for a Red Ale, the imperialized design has an immediate impact on the mouthfeel. Robust textures of malt, creaminess, and density play on the tongue with an expansive bready feel. All that makes a quick transition toward dryness, bitterness, and aggressive bite in a warming and malty-dry finish. A moderate linger of malt and hop bitterness reside on the back of the tongue and usher in the next sip.

Elector is a very good American Strong Ale that borrows flavor profiles from both American IPAs, American Amber Ales, Irish Red Ales, and with the balance of American Barleywines. A delightful beer for cooler evenings and a great alternative to Stone's Arrogant Bastard Ale.

Re-review 11/18/10:

Much more of an Amber or Red Ale in color and malt character, the beer represents a hearty bread crust or toasty malt flavor and aroma without the char of a brown or porter. Hop content is certianly on par with an IPA and weaves into the malty boldness very well. But without dominating the beer as IPA's should, the beer is better suited as an American Red Ale. Solid and true throughout, the beer has a bolder toffee/butterscotch flavor that is as rewarding as distracting. Definately a better beer than I remember having six years earlier.

---

A solid IPA with a strong malt balance. Fruity, spicy nose typical of using American Hops. Malts and yeast combine for a bready aroma. Looks lightly bronzed and clear in color with just a trace of foam and lacing. Flavors are a little bready and caramelly on the sweet side, but is rounded nicely by strong hop grapefruitiness and orange rinds. A good beer with little complexity. Body is fair, nothing to brag about, but nothing to complain about either. Finish is mildly drying and bitter.

Serving type: on-tap

10-25-2005 15:32:24 | More by BEERchitect

oracle

Indiana

4.38/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Nice dark copper color with minimalistic head. Very slight lacing throughout.

Heavy hop character in the nose, especially the grapefruit. However this is an undertone of more floral scents.

The hops in this are as subtle as a brick passing through a plate glass window. Right after the initial assault of hops, however, a nice malt counter balance comes into play. Finishes pleasantly bitter without being overbearing.

The is medium carbonation here, but it doesn't get in the way and actually adds to character of the beer.

Overall, very very good.

Serving type: on-tap

07-08-2004 00:49:44 | More by oracle

zerk

California

4.03/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Deep clear copper with an almost non-existent head. Aroma of caramel and toasted malts, accentuated by a healty dose of spicy / earthy hops. Flavor begins sweet, with caramel and bread dough, then becomes bitter and spicy. The flavors are in nice balance, although the hop profile is probably on the mild side for an American IPA. Has a medium to full body... with medium carbonation. Quite smooth, and very drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

02-04-2003 08:29:09 | More by zerk

Viking

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Dark, hazy copper. Not much head, but faint lace remains throughout the 'live' of the imperial pint. Big, bad aroma of grapefruity and herbal hops. Though the hops take charge, there's also plenty of malt - caramel mostly - to add balance. Flavor is full of hops and rather bitter, but does not overpower the malt. It becomes rather well-balanced after the brew warms a bit (initially served a bit too cool for my tastes, especially after a properly served English cask ale). Medium bodied, smooth and oily mouthfeel. Finish is nice and oily, leaving a nice layer of hoppy goodness coating my palate. Aftertaste of grapefruity hops.

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2003 18:24:57 | More by Viking

blackie

Virginia

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

a: served in a plastic hotel cup, the beer is a hazy, deep nut amber in color, sporting a thick khaki head with great retention - props to plastic

s: rich malt syrup nose, lots of dark caramelization, heavy toffee, nutty grain sugar, earthy pine tea hops, fruit esters, almost a sweet raw wort aroma at times

m: carbonation brushes with life smoothly across the tongue, weighty medium-full body

t: body loaded with rich, heavily caramelized malts that bring flavors of sweet, nutty grain and thick, raw malt wort, heavy hop flavors come in about halfway - long-steeped, earthy pine tea flavors dominate, pungent and acidic, sugars continue through but dial back a bit as a moderate bittering balances things out a touch,

o: rich and unrefined, lots of pure caramelized grain character, a nice beer that does well as the rustic type, though scores lower as a result, drinks fine

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 04:11:21 | More by blackie

macrosmatic

Florida

3.19/5  rDev -14%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25

Reviewed from notes. Poured from bomber into a Cigar City pint glass.

A: Pours a clear, deep reddish amber, with a one-finger off-white head, and moderate visible carbonation.

S: Toasted caramel, some pine bitterness, with vanilla and citrus in the background.

T: Follows the nose. Big bready malts with some spiciness. There isn't a particularly hoppy flavor here but there is some hop bitterness in the hang. Overall though, the taste seems thin and not overly pleasing.

M: Light bodied for an imperial-anything, moderate carbonation sensation, alcohol very well-hidden.

O: I bought this on a whim - a new brewery to this area, and it does have a pretty cool label. That said, I'm not impressed with the beer. It was drinkable, but I won't buy another one.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 18:41:41 | More by macrosmatic

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.65/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Bottle from Deloch's in Indiana, 650ml into a tulip.

Unfiltered brown with some redder/ruby hues. Modest retention and thick lace. Nose has berries, a big red ale malt (heavily caramelized), toffee, light citrusk and spicy hops (although perhaps a bit faded). Taste has and earthy, caramel backbone. Moderate sweetness, toffee, citrus and some general hop bitterness. Malt is quite forward, and quite a nice profile displayed at that. Medium full feel, moderate bitterness. A decent red ale, with nice malt character but the hop flavours aren't as forward as I would've desired - still not a bad beer by any stretch.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 01:27:09 | More by liamt07

ChugginOil

Illinois

2.83/5  rDev -23.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Picked up at a liquor store near 3 Floyds

Poured into a FFF pint glass

The look is a cloudy reddish brown color that has a finger of off-white head that leaves lots of lace.

The nose is extremely malty. Nothing but malt. No hops or booze scents. Sweet and caramel-like malts dominate.

The taste is just the same. Biscuit-like malt, caramel malt and a bit of butterscotch. A tad bit of hops leave a bitter tingle.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation.

Overall, not very pleasant due to the malt overloads. I doubt this was fresh but there is not a bottle-on-date so who knows. Malt bomb.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 06:28:04 | More by ChugginOil

seedsofchaos

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

I've had a few issues with this brewery in the past. Namely, over-carbonation problems in quite a few of my previous bombers. Elector surprised me with seemingly spot on carbonation and a great appearance. Alright, New Albanian, we're off to a good start.

A rich copper, almost barleywine color, sits fantastically with dark ruby highlights. Head adorns my pint glass perfectly with 1/3 inch of off-white foam that just doesn't leave. Perfect viscosity from all those oily hops and great looking legs.

Cascade hops come through nicely in the nose. Plenty of citrus on top of a light crystal malt aroma. This is definitely a Red that's been dry-hopped. Citrus echoes in the flavor as well, but a bit of pine comes through as well, especially playing its part in bittering and aftertaste. The malt bill gains more complexity with a bit of warmth. In fact, the malt and hop bill almost begin to become somewhat reminiscent of a DFH 90 Minute IPA... Almost. Alcohol is masked nicely and the Caramel malts provide a nice, mild sweetness to the brew. A bit over-carbonated (here's that again) in the mouthfeel but at least it doesn't detract from the overall impression of the beer as other offerings have.

All in all, a decent representation of an Imperial Red/Amber. The semi-aggressive hop bill sits well in the bouquet as well as in the flavor. This is, by far, the best offering from New Albanian that I've had to date. I'm hoping for more of this as time goes on. I'd definitely be willing to buy another bottle of this in the future. Good job, NA.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 01:38:01 | More by seedsofchaos

t420o

California

4/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

New Albanian elector

Consumed: Aug 25

A- pour produces a 1-1/2 finger off white head that's rests atop a hazy copperish red body. Leaves nice
Lacing decent retention 4  

S- cherries, mollases, twizzlers, some citrus and bitter hop smell, a wine type scent I get in a lot of imperial reds. Very good 4

T- very nice bitter hop taste in nice balance with the sweet malty flavors. There is definitely a cherry and wine type taste. Some citrus also. Ends with a nice bitterness. The flavors come in nice waves. 4

M- very good moutfeel. Very smooth nice carbonation. 4

O- I'm a big fan of imperial reds and while this may not be the best one it is a damn good beer. It would have a place in my fridge anytime if it were available to me. Wish I would have shipped another one back. 4

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 19:55:56 | More by t420o

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

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

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #55 (August 2011):

Tall portion of head, and the dark chestnut color is clear enough for the light to shine through. Big aroma of toffee, baked apples, ripe plums, raisins, brown bread and alcoholic esters. Malty body is not too thick, but certainly is very smooth. Massive toasted malt foundation, so lush, with a broad stroke on the palate. Hints of toffee and ripe fruit within—modest hopping drops some herbal flavor in the back ... broth as well? Warming esters in the sweetish finish. Bold flavors and big malt profile may take away from the drinkability, but it still ends up being a good sipper.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 13:27:24 | More by BeerAdvocate

bobhits

Kentucky

2.23/5  rDev -39.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

Well after a night of talking politics, hearing the thoughts of one of our Republican candidate's staffers, well this beer feel appropriate. With the elections burning and the political talk peeking...just a great time for beer and good discussions!

Pours red and very cloudy. There's a yeast haze that I really really can't see through and this is a thin glass. Nice head and great lacing.

Really just a big red aroma. Caramel, hops, fruity esters, and well just a red. This doesn't give off a huge hop aroma as the bottle indicated.

Bready biscuit like taste dominates. A bit of hops at the end and they add a fruity element throughout.A bit of bitterness lingers but this is a pretty simple imperial red.

Way way too thick! There's something about this that is making this really hard to drink. It's odd as it is well carbonated and should be very drinkable.

This one needs more hops or less body...the blend here is just not working in anyway shape or form. There aren't any real bad tastes but I can't get into this.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 17:03:15 | More by bobhits

brown2cu

Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Thanks for the suggestion from my local bottle shop!

A: Pours a deep mahogany and is initially topped by a half finger of head. However, it dies down into near nothingness. a moderate amount of lacing is present.

S: Piney earthy hops are present in the nose at the forefront. At the back there is a strong dark fruit backing with a slight tinge of caramel.

T: Hops are more assertive than I would have guessed but it cuts into the caramel rather nicely and creates some balance. There is some fruity aspects in the taste as well.

M: Well rounded; creamy but not heavy slight alcohol burn in the mouth.

Overall, I enjoy this beer and will get again and definitely make an effort to try more of their beers

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2011 04:18:46 | More by brown2cu

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

3.48/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle poured into a tulip

A: Pours a dark amber, reddish hue with a foamy creme colored head. My bottle exploded upon opening, which means it could be ill-preserved or it could be excessively carbonated. Or maybe I shook it on accident, but I’m sure it’s the bottle’s fault.

S: Smells of sweet caramel maltiness and pine and earthy hops, almost barleywine like.

T/M: There is a low amount of carbonation (from the bottle exploding possibly, which of course, wasn’t my fault), thick biscuit malt, rum raisin, some graininess and a clean bitterness. Not a hoppy bitterness, but but something from a long boil that lingers in the finish, like a pilsner or German lager. The alcohol is well disguised.

It’s not a complex beer, but is still a good, weighty brew. Serving this beer at congressional meetings would work wonders.

TheBeerAlmanac.com

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2011 02:51:15 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

Ghenna

California

3.58/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Received as part of /r/beertrade with guytyping

Pours deep copper, fluffy off white head.

Lots of caramel and sweet malt on the nose- very much like liquid malt extract for those of who you have smelled it. Citrusy hop as it warms.

Not what I was expecting in the area of taste. Burned caramel, very dry, pine resin hop finish.

Kind of a weird beer. The nose, especially when cold, doesn't really hint at the taste at all. The taste- well that was like what I would expect in an imperial irish red, but sort of not too. A little lacking in the area of malt.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2011 02:42:14 | More by Ghenna