Ninkasi Believer Double Red

Bottle pours a murky redish brown with a small tan head. Aroma of woody brown sugary malts and some metalic piney hops. Flavor is more woody and metalic. Earthy and fairly bitter but not much flavor that I can fondly describe. Just a murky, muddy mess. Tree bark bitter trailer, and a feeling of utter disappointment. I have reason to expect greater things fron this brewer. Maybe next time.

Fluffy off-tan head. 22 oz. purchased at John’s Market Place in Portland, Oregon. Deep dark caramel brown. Fairly transparent, but it is very dark. Nice malt/hop balance. A very nice and sweet malt, but also balanced. The hops are definitely present. Wow, pretty good beer. Very malty, but it doesn’t have that hop backing that I was hoping it would have. More malty than sweet. Not excatly a thick beer, but a nice semi-smooth beer. Again, a little too malty for me. Plenty of great malts, but I feel with that it should be classified differently; decent brew.

A great spin on the red ale. Like a Belgian strong, but not too strong. Good malty feel with a bit of fruits and good hop balance.

Got this bottle about three weeks ago at Sam’s in Chicago. And it’s pretty good beer. Appearance is ok: very light tan to off-white head and lace. Color is a very hazy medium brown. Sediment in the bottom says bottle conditioned. Aroma is hoppy and a darkish malt. Flavor is like some of the other Ninkasi beers much more interesting than the nose. Pick up a lot of maltiness, a little caramel, toffee, a hint of roastiness - tasty. Balanced. Body is good too - good carbonation. Finish is milder than the sipping flavor.

I was pleasantly surprised with this ale. Pours deep maple-red with thin off-white head into snifter. Subtle yet enticing nose of cherry wood and sweet blossoms. Taste is initially strong bitter with sweet malt, dates, walnuts, raisins and spice in the mid-palate with a silky, bitter-burnt caramel finish. This ale made me a believer and I would definitely have it again.

Pours a deep crimson with fluffy off white head. Decent lacing. Huge aroma of some hops and alcohol. It is only 7% so I do not know where that is coming from. Deep malt charecter with light sweetness and some well balanced hop bite. Good finish. Not bad.

Pours a dark amber, copper with a nice tan head. Thick body to it with a good taste and smell.

Poured from 22oz. Bomber into Snifter glass. Pours a deep amber red that glows around the edges with a nice 2 finger light caramel colored head that lasts and eventually forms a classy ring around the glass. Aroma is a good balance of sweet malt, citrus hops and a touch of booze. Flavor has quite a bit of dried fruits and more of the sweet malt and ends with a light bitterness. Its medium-bodied and not overly sticky. This is a drinkable brew and enjoyable but there is just something about it that would make me hesitate before I decided to purchase again.