Odell Extra Special Red Ale

Brewed by Odell Brewing Company
Style: American Strong Ale
Fort Collins, Colorado USA

Tasted at Noogfest 4.0 (2008). This American Strong Ale pours a red amber color from a 12oz bottle. Medium sized white foamy head. The aroma is caramel and hops. A medium bodied American Strong Ale. The malts are caramel and sweet. Some roasted malts as well. The hops are grapefruity and citrusy. Nice balance. Good carbonation. Mouthfeel is full. Finish si clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

Bottle at Noogfest 08 via Iowaherkeye? Pours medium amber red with an off white head. Great aroma of citrus rind and toasted grains. This has a nice toasted malt profile, with some caramel and very subtle accents of holiday spice. The hop bitterness is nice because it gives this some kick without going to far out of balance. This is sort of like an Irish red on steroids.

Though it has its roots in Egyptian history and mythology, O’dell’s Extra Special Red can still command the attention of a modern audience. It’s color is an elegant oak and mahogany brown, clear but still very dark. Atop that sits a thick and lumpy white head - clearly not a light beer for a light occasion. The aroma is mostly hoppy, but there exists a sweeter side laced with cinnamon and the airy touch of whipped cream. That, combined with a serious dose of nutmeg makes this beer smell not unlike a glass of egg nog. As far as my experience goes (which is about as far as I can throw a full sized keg of beer) this is a brand new aromatic experience. The taste reflects this adventurist spirit on behalf of the brewer’s. A little hops prevails, but in that swirling soup of tastes appears lactose sweetness, caramel, toffee, and cinnamon spice. The bitterness is just right - not off putting, but the beer still dominates the palate. Even if, as the brewers say, the red beer was made to tame angry gods, it has certainly tamed me and my appetite for new and interesting brews.

<12oz bottle: Appropriately colored deep red pour with a short, sticky head. The nose is a malt onslaught - lots of burnt caramel, cookie, sweet chocolate, toffee, sweet cherry. Very nice intro. The body continues the deep malt profile, with a drying sensation in the finish. A splash of citrusy hops join the heavy caramel and fudge notes. An interesting concoction indeed.

Pour is deffinalty a dark red with a small white head. Aroma is pine hops with a strong dose of tosted malts. Flavor is lots of brown sugar and caramel malts with an oily hop backbone. A very tasty and thick beer with almost no noticeable alcohol. Pricy for a six but if you see this being sold as singles I advise you pick up a few.

The 12 ounce bottle poured a slightly cloudy reddish-amber colored beverage with a small fizzy white head that was almost entirely diminishing and left almost no lacing on the glass. The aroma had an immediate sweet, dried fruit character with undertones of citrus and grassy hops. The body was full with soft carbonation and a slightly oily mouthfeel. The flavor starts out sweet and fruity with a slight sour undertone. The sweetness ends in the middle giving way to the hop grassiness. There is decided alcohol warmth toward the end.

12 oz’er from heemer77, thanks Eric. pours a clear dark amber with a smallish creamy tan head fading to spotty lace. aroma of pink grapefruit along with some earthy notes. flavor is mildly spicy with some buttery toffee and a bit more of the grapefruit. not over the top, but nicely done!

Bottle. The body is depe rusty brown with a yellowish khaki head. The aroma is fairly hoppy with a lot or grapefruit and some taosted almonds. The taste is rich toffee with some grapefruit coming behind that. There is also some definite pear character in this one. As it warms you get a little bit of cinnamon spice. Nicely made.