Lagunitas Imperial Red

Brewed by Lagunitas Brewing Company
Style: American Strong Ale
Petaluma, California USA

12 oz bottle from Oak Tree Buy Rite. Poured a crystal clear deep reddish/amber with a large dense frothy slightly off white head. Initial aroma is pure piney hops like an Imperial IPA, as it warms some other aromas start to creep in and I’m not sure that is a good thing. Something that reminds me of fresh cut pineapple on a plastic cutting board is there, uhm.....yeahn I know weird description but hey screw u this is my rating. Mouthfeel is medium with lively carbonation. Flavor is hop on, yeah I know it’s not an Imperial IPA but man is this hoppy. It’s hard to explain but when the maltiness kicks in it’s a different malt flavor then your typical IIPA so thats what sets this apart and makes it an IRA, hmm.....Imperial Red Ale (IRA) interesting.

12 oz. bottle from Plaza Liquors - Pours a clear copperish-red color with a one and a half finger thick light tan head. Light lacing. Aroma is sweet floral and citrus hops. Flavor is much of the same with some toasted malt to back it. Medium body. No lingering aftertaste. A very good beer.

12 oz. bottle from jimbowood. Thanks Jimbo. Pours a clear reddish copper color with a small disappearing beige head. The aroma is caramel malts, pine and citrus hops, and earthiness. The flavor is very much the same with good balance. Medium/full bodied and smooth drinking. Solid brew.

Sort of an underdeveloped hairy eyeball, interesting idea, a little underwhelming on the palate, plenty of bitterness, not enough malt character.

Strong sweet caramel malt aroma. Clear amber color with a large white head that quickly goes away. Caramel malt taste through out with a slight hop bite at the end. Creamy palate.

This ale is excellent. ’Red ales’ are a favorite style of mine as they mix the high hops of IPAs with the a finish of a weak belgian. Very nice dark copper pour with a opaque head that was not as prominent as pronounced. Aroma is of cinnamon and coriander.

Thin frothy head of fine bubbles. Decent carbonation. Sweet malty aroma and kind of vegetal. Hint of cinnamon in the background. Light hops presence. Kind of a mish mash aroma. Color is a bright crimson. Very nice color. Sweet and malty flavor with a bit of smoke, citrus fruit pith, resinous hops and grains. Nice alcohol warming as it goes down. Finishes kind of slick and malty. Strong hops bitterness and lingering dryness. A decent brew.

Appearance: Pours a marvelously clear copper body with a white, diminishing head. The lacing was thin and uneven. Smell: Caramel malts in the nose with a nice bit of toastiness. The hops are piney with fruity undertones. Taste: Light bready caramel malts joined by crisp, hoppy flavors of pine resins and grapefruit. Very tea-like at times. Herbaceous hops round out the finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, with a pleasingly smooth mouthfeel. Drinkability: Though the hops can be a little cutting at times its a rather likeable red ale, and quite quaffable.