Sacramento Smokeys Imperial Red Ale

Draft at the brewpub. Near opaque brown color with a decent little tan head on the snifter. Smells rather oaky sour. Medium body with mild carbonation. Very woody/oaky with some hop bitter, a touch of temporary sour, and a rather brown malty finish. Pretty astringent. Lots of flavor. Even develops a touch of vinosity. Astringent! Note: Brewer said this was unblended, in a first time barrel. It was a bourbon barrel, but the oak in a first time barrel is strong.

Oak aged, on tap at the brewery. Dark brown color with a red hue. Nice tan head. Nose is charred oak with maybe some whiskey or rum. Taste is like a port, whiskey, cognac. Very warm from the alcohol but soothing. Not as bitter as I was expecting. This would be nice with a cigar after a meal. I’m sure this would age well to take some of the alcohol heat down and really accentuate the sweet flavors in this beer.

On tap at the brewery. This reddish brown ale poured with a thin beige head and a citrus aroma. There is a full -bodied sweet caramel malt base with a lot of fruit. Very tasty.

GABF 2007. Cloudy brown body. Bitter citrus hop nose with similar body. Sweet malt mouthfeel.

GABF 2007: Poured a hazy brown color with a beige head. The piny aroma is strong and fresh. It covers most of the malt. The flavor is big but mixed. Fruity malt with caramel and piny hops. medium to full bodied. Pretty nice.

Name: Smokey’s Imperial Red Ale
Date: 10/13/2007
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewfest, GABF

muddy dark red, frothy beige head, sweet caramel and munich aroma with lots of earthy hops, rich malt flavor, lots of dark caramel and munich character, an abundance of earthy hops, long bitter finish

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: **+/4