Imperial Red Ale - Lagunitas Brewing Company

Imperial Red Ale

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Overall: 9.00/10 by 2 dudes

Standard Deviation: 0 or 0%

Trend: 9.00/10 over past 5 reviews

Style: American Strong Ale

ABV: 7.50%

IBU: 84

Season: August

Have Another: 100%

310 beers rated with a 8.28 average
  • 9.00/10 have another
  • A: 9.0 | T: 9.0 | L: 9.0 | M: 9.0 | O: 9.0
  • sDev: 0.00% Color: Amber-Brown
  • Pours a clear amber brown color with a half inch cream colored head. Good retention on the head as it rests on top with tightly formed bubbles. Lots of thick lacing covers the edges of the glass.

    The aroma is a nice mix of citrus hops and caramel malts. A nice clean refreshing aroma that is nicely balanced and inviting.

    The taste is rich and complex. Starts with a sweet caramel malt and quickly blends into a bold citrus hop with a dry dark fruit flavor showing itself just after the citrus hops kick in. The finish is more citrus hop and a bit of floral. The after taste is fairly dry with a light bitter citrus and floral hop blend that lingers on the palate.

    Medium body with medium carbonation. The mouthfeel is creamy and smooth and makes this a very drinkable beer.

    Overall a very nice beer from Lagunitas. Awesome flavors that are complex and well balanced. Very drinkable and enjoyable with all the flavors showing themselves in well balance bold fashion. Add this one to your list! Itâ??s a keeper!
  • 1,030 characters
  • Reviewed: Friday, March 16, 2012 at 22:16:05
  • Tasted: Friday, March 16, 2012
  • $1.99 for 12 oz. bottle
1,467 beers rated with a 7.84 average
  • 9.00/10 have another
  • A: 9.0 | T: 9.0 | L: 9.0 | M: 9.0 | O: 9.0
  • sDev: 0.00% Color: Brown
  • Poured clear into my mason mug. Had a huge, larger, but tightly packed bubbled, off-white foam. Really good retention as I was fighting off the foam for a while. Nice lacing.

    You know a beer with 84IBU is going to have to have some hops and it did. Big citrus hops after a blast of caramel malt. Both aromas are huge and balance each other.

    This is something else. Hops throughout. There isn't a part of this that doesn't have a hop flavor. Starts off with malt: sweet malt but also some roasted malt. A good mix of dried/dark fruit in the middle along with the citrus hops. The end is all hops: floral and more citrus. Little hop in the after taste. Extremely complex combination and awesome.

    Medium carbonation, some creaminess, and a little light in the mouth. No matter this is yummy.

    Five days without beer made my three tonight taste like heavenly bliss. Maybe it is just me but another awesome brew that I would definitely look for again. Enjoy!
  • 972 characters
  • Reviewed: Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 21:26:05
  • Tasted: Thursday, September 24, 2009
  • $1.20 for 12 oz. bottle