Odell Extra Special Red Ale

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

Pours deep amber with rocky, medium-sized beige head. Nose is fruity, vinous, with aromas of honey, sweet raspberry and cherry. Flavor is floral hops upfront, raw honey, toasted grain, light smokiness, very mild alcohol astringency for this abv. Mild resiny citrus-like hops in finish and lingering bitterness. Palate is full, with some oiliness and dryness. Overall, pretty good, definitely all over the place.

Bottle. Big dark and red. The aroma is massive, big rich malt and a top of hop. This drinks with a thick butterscotchy, whiskey-laden even, thing. Despite the thick flavors, this is relatively lightly bodied. Sweet rich finish. (#3335, 2/21/2008)

12oz. bottle. Fruity, citric and gently sweet aroma, some lightly toasty caramel malts and grapefruit, along with lighter hints of berry, brown sugar and spruce. Cloudy medium-dark amber color with a lasting, fine head. Flavor is fairly nicely balanced with plenty of toasty dark malt sweetness and fruity, spicy hops, these also contributing a substantial amount of bitterness at the finish. Some grapefruit, faint apple, honey, flowers, pine and peppery spice linger. Mouthfeel is smoothly effervescent, acidic and lightly coats the palate, body is medium-full. I’m actually a big fan of this style, historically, and this is pretty drinkable, but somehow I’m not "wowed". There is a certain degree of harshness and lack of integration, I think.

Bottled. 4 2007. Beer is medium rosy brown with a small, frothy, light tan, mostly and rapidly diminishing head.<P>The aroma is malty with light notes of toasted rye bread crust, cookie; Hoppy with moderate notes of herb, grassy resinous pine, light apricot; Yeasty with a trace of dish raggy basement; Light notes of vanilla red wood, and thin tropical fruit juice.<P>The flavor is moderately/heavily bitter, lightly juicy/acidic, moderately sweet with a long, warmish, lightly sweet, lightly acidic/astringent finish.<P>The body is light, the texture is creamy/watery, the carbonation is average.<P>Big personality and solid.

(bottle) Copper with small off white head. Malt aroma. Flavor is slightly sweet malt. Some grassy hops. Noticeable alcohol in the finish.

Bottle. Deep clear copper with small beige head. Aroma is grapefruit, very sharp and hoppy, with some toasted malts and spiciness present. This tastes like a red rye beer. Very bitter and interesting. It’s not perfectly balanced and is a little bit thin, but a very tasty, drinkable beer.

Pours a deep, ruby red with a creamy beige head that diminishes to a thin skin and leaves behind patchy lace. The nose is a round, toasted, caramel malt along with floral and citric hops. Medium-bodied and slick with a bitingly bitter finish, the mouthfeel is nice up until the swallow. Sweet, "burnt" malt with bold and bitter hops coming quickly behind. The potential for a really good beer is present, but I found this one really unbalanced. I enjoy hoppy beers, but, for me, this one failed to find a match with its malt bill.

From IrishBoy via trade. Thank you again Richard. The pour was a clear, vibrant copper color with plenty of ruby depth. A nearly two-finger tall off-white head formed and showed some persistence while producing minimal lacing. The aroma was herbal, grassy hops over some light citrus. Mild spice as well. The flavor was lots of grassy hops and butter. Slighly bready. Reminded me of a slightly spicy version of Southern Tier’s Hoppe. Average to above average mouthfeel.