Tasman Red IPA - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

MouthfulOfchris

Texas

3.45/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a clear dark amber/bronzed color with a thick firm and sticky lightly tanned foam that has good retention and good lacing left behind on the glass.

S: A pleasant balance of malt and hops. The malt nose has toast, pine, and scorched toffee notes. The hop aroma comes through with a citruisy grapefruit and fresh grass profile.

T: Malty rich flavors of burnt toffee or brittle weave in toasty elements of bread, walnut, and deeper flavors that almost resemble coffee. Low on sweetness, only the dry character of malt exists along with a roasty grain counterpart. Dry malt flavors are further encouraged by the deep resiny flavor and bitterness of hops to capture a taste of white grapefruit pulp, orange, fresh cut grasses, and pine.

M: Creamy to start, the creamy malt textures fall away and allow the dry mouth feel to pick up on the bitterness from hops that eventually lead to an extended finish of grassy hops and malty-dry character.

O: It is hard to pin this down to a style. It has similar qualities to an Amber but with more IPA type hops. Though the hops are definitely present, the malt character is what shines through. It is a good mix of styles that I would drink again.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2012 00:02:12 | More by MouthfulOfchris

Cavanaghty

Maine

3.93/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into a Sam Adams Glass.

Appearance: Darker copper color with a beige head that was thick. Medium lacing on the glass.

Smell: Pine, Hopsmaybe some roasted malts, an almost coffee like smell as well?

Mouthfeel/Taste: Smooth Medium bodied. Taste of pine notes with a sweeter toffee or coffee taste mixed in. Bitter hops at the end that give it spicy kick of almost a pepper taste.

Overll: Not a bad brew, one of the better IPAs to come out of that summer IPA varity pack Sam Adams put out.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 14:21:40 | More by Cavanaghty

jjboesen

Maryland

4.23/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This brew, part of yet another of Boston Beers' many series of beer, is named "Tasman Red" because of the Tasmanian hops - Topaz and Galaxy - that support this craft beer.

First of all, open initial pour, it simply bursts from the bottle in a slobbering vanilla froth; this results in a spongy, gluey, head that slowly sinks into the anxious glass. The body is translucent, copper in color, dotted with a few sluggish carbonation bubbles. Otherwise, it is still within. There exists a thick rimlace that is retained throughout the quaff.

Interesting nose contains whiffs of dates, butter and toffee; the palate receives an oily plastering of pine that subsides into a dry, lingering bitterness. Have some water handy as the mouthfeel loses plenty of moisture.

An interesting quaff that allows one's palate the chance to visit far off Tasmania, the home of the whirling creature that seems to have a taste for Bugs Bunny. "It's wabbit season."

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 23:02:22 | More by jjboesen

vfgccp

New York

3.15/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - Beautiful, deep burgundy black cherry body, with a stellar yellowed paper foam cap. Great retention and nice lace.

S - Soft and semisweet with honey, hazelnut, candied orange, and candied ginger.

T - Relatively dry profile. Caramel malt, touch of almond, and a firm alpha oil bitterness. The profile closes quickly, leaving an aftertaste of fruity malt and lingering bitters.

M - Dry, quick finish. Nice, bright carbonation and acidity. Medium body.

O - Nice malt character. I would have liked to have seen a little more from the hops, which lent a significant amount of bitterness but not much flavor.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 22:38:25 | More by vfgccp

jwc215

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours dark red with a foamy tan head that lasts, leaving plenty of lacing.

The smell is of caramel, slightly nutty, with herbal and citric spiciness.

The upfront sweetness of caramel (and honey?) is quickly taken over by hop bitterness - herbal, citric, sightly piney. Sweetness comes back to balance the bitterness (which becomes slightly aspirin-like). Finishes dry and refreshing with a long, pleasant aftertaste.

It is pretty smooth, slightly oily with a firm medium body.

This is a nicely/generously hopped red with hops imported from Tasmania. Certainly worth the buy!

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 17:08:31 | More by jwc215

schoolboy

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This isn't an American ipa. It's a red ale. As an American ipa, it is wrong in a whole lot of ways - taste, smell, color.

This is a unique quality brew. Lots of hops for the style (whatever it is) and a nice robust maltiness (nothing like an American ipa).

This is something I don't need to have again, but it isn't something you should avoid.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 21:53:27 | More by schoolboy

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

4.13/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pretty pleasing and tasty take on a Red IPA

Presentation: Custom 12 oz brown capped bottle. Sam Adams rebranding series, with a soft crimson background and an illustration of a bearded character with a hat. Back label notes main style, intent, ingredients, and characteristics. Shows illegible printed date/batch number, the packing box recommended best by Sep 2012. Notes 6.5%Alc. by Vol. Served in a tulip glass.

A - Deep amber-brown pour with a rich, towering, creamy head, great retention and surface memory with good touches of lacing. Another good looker from this SA IPA series...

S - Hoppy caramel on the nose, burnt hint of sweetness..

T - …and it works rather nicely in the palate crushed roasted sugar punctuated by a nice layer of hops with resinous and citric notes.

M - Medium body and carbonation, a bit coarse, nice lingering dash of bitter caramel in the finish...

O - Very nice red IPA, this drinks very well.

Notes: Direct and maybe a bit coarse but in a rather pleasing way. Well worth the try. Glad to see SA doing some regular hoppy offerings of note.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 20:09:22 | More by Daniellobo

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From: Piccadilly in Champaign, IL
Date: None visible
Glass: US pint

Pours a 2cm head, very light tan in color, composed of small to medium-sized bubbles. Retention is above average, settling within a few minutes to a thick ring around the glass. Some modest lacing is left along the sides of the glass. Body is a deep red-brown color, with quite active carbonation.

Aroma is of modest grapefruit, cedar mulch, and deep toffee-like malts. I'm assuming the mulch-like component is from the Tasmanian hops, though not completely sure on this. An above average aroma for an AIPA, if not particularly compelling.

An interesting taste, fairly heavy and forward with its malts, definite toffee or caramel-like influences with a subtle roasted quality. The hops are present primarily as some mild grapefruit, citrus, and slight vegetable matter. Not particularly astounding in any aspect, but certainly above average in terms of flavor and interest.

Body is of medium to medium-heavy weight, with medium-high levels of carbonation. The beer is definitely malt-forward and malt-heavy along the IPA spectrum, so if this is what appeals to you, then the heavier, fairly carbonated mouthfeel should be appealing.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 04:57:28 | More by falloutsnow

Fadefury

Maryland

3.18/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a red/brown color with a very nice 1/2 inch head

S: Roasted citrusy notes

T: The smoked malts and the hops blend very well together. The earthy/pine notes are the most obvious

M: Medium body with high carbonation, but it works well

O: I enjoyed drinking this with some spicy wings, but couldn't see it doing much for me just by itself.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 20:30:56 | More by Fadefury

bigflatsbeerman

New York

4.55/5  rDev +20.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - Very dark red with three finger almond color head (I'm color blind don't quote me), poured into a tulip pint glass.
Smell - Like no other beer smell I remember, malt with piney hops.
Taste - Very nice interesting tasting beer. Similar to the smell malt and piney hop flavor.
Mouthfeel - On the heavier side which could affect the drinkabilty.
Overall - I like this beer, it's different and interestingly so. I would recommend anyone trying it.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 02:05:07 | More by bigflatsbeerman

nukem5

Pennsylvania

3.18/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Pours a nice reddish brown color with a slight head that disappears rapidly.slight lacing down glass.

S: Aroma is of roasty malts with a faint smokey quality about it.

T: Flavors are of smoked malts and bitter herbs of all the beers in this case this is the least appealing to me.Also some anise and burnt caramels. An overpowering amount of grapefruity hops.

M: Mouthfeel is ok medium bodied and a nice carbonation level.

O: Overall don't think I will be craving one of these soon was Ok but thats all.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 05:45:58 | More by nukem5

Beaver13

Colorado

2.4/5  rDev -36.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

12 oz bottle. Pours a dark reddish amber with a medium frothy off-white head that retains well and laces the glass.

The aroma is a bit subdued - some piney resiny hops and some fruit and roasty caramel/toffee malts.

The flavor is a bit odd - leathery sweet caramel/toffee malts with metallic resiny hops. The mouthfeel is light bodied and pretty watery.

Overall, rather strange with some off notes.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 23:58:38 | More by Beaver13

fields336

North Carolina

3.53/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz no best buy, SAPP glass

A: dark amber, red (obvious) with a 1 finger khaki head on it, leaves a nice lacing and head sticks around for a while

S: some citrus, dank, toasty malts, bread, sweet toffee, caramel

T: citrusy, grapefruit, earthy, bready, roast, toast, pine, caramel, toffee, slight metallic quality

M: medium-light bodied, a little thick for my taste carbonation is decent, a bit low perhaps

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 04:46:25 | More by fields336

therica

Maryland

3.4/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Interesting mix of standouts that just don't seem to come together, for me.

A= red-amber, modest white head fading quickly to some rimming.

S= mostly candy and sweet malts.

T= reminds me of a toffee-coated hops nugget. The reverse correlation would be something like a jalapeno-coated banana. Nice individual parts that just do not come together, for me, regardless of temperature.

M= slightly biting and very astringent.

O= an interesting attempt that falls short of a cohesive final product.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2012 03:23:34 | More by therica

Alextricity

Michigan

3.05/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into a cold Samuel Adams pint glass.

As you can see by the scores, this is really just an average beer. It looks nice, but the smell and mouth feel are all "meh". As is always most important, the taste. Tasman Red isn't REALLY bitter, but it remains a tad bit too bitter for my taste.

This isn't a terrible beer, but it is really pretty forgettable in my mind... there's just nothing about it that really STANDS OUT in my mind. I wouldn't go out of my way to have a Tasman Red.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 01:11:03 | More by Alextricity

OStrungT

California

3.05/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This beer pours a brownish red color with a thin, dark tan head. the head fades slowly, leaving a really nice lace.

This beer Has a very mild aroma. i detect some grapefruit, and some toffee-like maltyness. Not much else at all. Pretty hard to detect anything.

This beer tastes much like it smells. Very mild all around. I get some piney hop flavor that was lacking in the aroma.

This beer is crisp. It leaves a slight piney aftertaste. Carbonation is good.

this beer would make a decent session beer due to the lack of aggressive flavors.

Overall: this beer isnt bad. It is kind of boring though. Pretty middle of the road.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 03:56:35 | More by OStrungT

kojevergas

California

3.28/5  rDev -13%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a conical Guinness pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are somewhat low actually, just the idea of it turns me off.

Served straight from the refrigerator. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

Not paired with food.

A: Pours a one finger head of beige colour, nice cream, pretty good thickness, and average retention. Colour is a nontransparent dark amber. Somewhat translucent; certainly not opaque. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Roasted malts, skunky oily pine hops, and rotten grapefruit. Toffee. Moderate in strength. It turns me away, actually. I'm not excited to try this. No yeast or alcohol is evident based on the aroma.

T: Indistinct piney and citrusy hops. The citrus element is actually rather incredible; I find these hops incredibly fresh and balanced. Very impressive, if niche. No real grapefruit except on the finish, to its benefit. No toffee comes through, contrary to the promise of the aroma. It's a clean pretty well balanced IPA, but still suffers from simplicity. That said, I am impressed with the hop character and would like to try other brews that use the strain. The clean malts are unobtrusive, aiding the body and rounding out the flavour profile without compromising the careful balance. No yeast or alcohol comes through.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Just thick enough. Adequately carbonated. Moderate on the palate. Suits the flavours pretty well.

Dr: A solid offering from Sam Adams. Certainly one of the better offerings in the IPA variety box I acquired this as part of. A nicely drinkable IPA with an interesting choice of hop strain. I like it and I'd certainly try it on-draught, but it lacks the complexity and subtlety needed to elevate it to something truly worthwhile. IPA fans will like it, but it's far from exemplary. Well priced in any case. I'm glad I tried it.

Low B-

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 06:55:32 | More by kojevergas

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.03/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pretty good, but I think just slightly off - Poured at a good temperature with a colossal, foamy, frothy, fluffy, cream-colored head and lots of lace. Color is a nice, clear, amber red with a couple of lazy bubble trails. Aroma is hop, resin, malt, funk. Flavor's like nose, fairly dry, some carbonic tang and bitterness in front with the sweetness becoming more pronounced in the finish. Body is full yet oddly soft even though carbonation is good. Finish is like flavor, fairly long, and a little boozy at the very end. Serious IPA.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 04:10:14 | More by drpimento

BeerNoobNC

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. From the Sam Adams Hoppology 12 pack. This is definitely not a typical IPA, which is a good thing when you want to try unique styles.

This beer has a darker taste that most IPAs (though not quite like a black ale). To me, it reminds me of a hopped up amber ale. It definitely has a sweet caramel taste, but also a bitter and complex hop character. This beer and the overall 12 pack are definitely worth a try, though you get some of the less exciting common beers with it too.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 03:11:30 | More by BeerNoobNC

ujsplace

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass.

Pours a deep amber colored amber that is nearly brown. Boasts a chunky, sticky, one-finger thick off-white head that has lots of thick tufts of lace clinging to the sides of the glass. Nice little islands floating around too.

Smells piney, citrus, oily, earthy and toffee

Earthy, oily, grapefruit hops up front. Giving way to burnt toffee malt and a pronounced oily dry hop finish. Mmm good.

Medium, crisp, refreshing and smooth. Well carbonated.

This was another selection in a mixed hop pack my wife picked up which is more often than not - always a surprise, but she's got good beer sense so I'm happy. I have to say, the brews in this collection are really nice. I wish I could remember the name of the case, but The Boston Beer Company has done it again. Another crowd pleaser. Good stuff. A nice summertime - or anytime for that matter brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 00:06:12 | More by ujsplace

raznug

Ohio

3.83/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: This red IPA pours a nice clear ruby color and is topped with 1” of head that takes its sweet time to dissipate.
Smell: This beer smells just like I would expect grapefruit and pine aromas along with a sticky smell that makes me think the flavor will last on the palate.
Taste: The taste goes along well with the smell being grapefruit and citrus and slight pine notes. The flavor doesn’t stick around like I was expecting but it does linger just enough.
Mouthfeel: This is a medium bodied beer that isn’t too heavy for an IPA but the flavor does stick around just a little bit.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 23:00:09 | More by raznug

ChrisPratz

3.73/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Deep brown color pours to 2 fingers of foam that dissipates to a thick finger of head that lingers and clings all the way down the glass. Very nice.

S: Lots of sweet maltyness and dark fruits with a very light not of bready biscuit . Very enjoyable.

T: Alot of sweet maltyness up front leading into piney/citrus hops and then on to the citrus rind and bitters. After taste remains bitter.

M: Creamyness in the mouth, bitter aftertaste. Alcohol is not very noticeable until the dryness on the palette at the end.

O: Not a bad beer. Typical Sam Adams with the heavy hops hit but not unenjoyable. Would try it again, on tap.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 01:15:41 | More by ChrisPratz

abgba121

Connecticut

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

A: pours a dark, hazy ruby color. Lots of off white head and strong lace.

S: pine hoppiness, sweet molasses and yeast overtones

T: big red ale, strong hops throughout, nice light bitter finish

M: medium body, light carbonation

O: a delicious red Ipa, a must buy

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 01:16:03 | More by abgba121

woosterbill

Connecticut

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

12oz bottle, fresh from the Jamaica Plains brewery courtesy of my buddy who works there. Thanks JM!

A: Clear, deep russet body under two fingers of rich, creamy tan head. Terrific retention, tons of lace. Awesome.

S: Sweet caramel malt is dominant, with some leafy, fruity hops in the background. Nice, but a bit rough.

T: Even sweeter than the nose, with caramel and butterscotch blowing everything else away entirely. Powerful bittersweet finish with some hoppy undertones. Herbal aftertaste. Pleasant, but the hops are wasted.

M: Creamy, frothy; too carbonated, but pleasant enough.

O: This was drinkable, even enjoyable, but didn't deliver as much southern hemisphere hoppiness as I was hoping for.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2012 17:46:12 | More by woosterbill

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

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

The beer is transparent and amber hued with approximately a half inch of head. The aroma is malty, with some caramel and fruit tones. Decent flavor - nothing exciting. Malt forward with a hint of bitterness in the finish. Well balanced. Medium bodied with appropriate carbonation. Overall, decent.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2012 21:38:27 | More by Huhzubendah