Believer
Ninkasi Brewing Company

BelieverBeliever
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From:
Ninkasi Brewing Company
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
American Amber / Red Ale
Ranked #64
ABV:
6.9%
Score:
86
Ranked #19,561
Avg:
3.81 | pDev: 10.76%
Reviews:
201
Ratings:
542
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 09, 2022
Added:
Jun 23, 2007
Wants:
  19
Gots:
  65
An Imperial American Red Ale.

Ninkasi website:
"6.9 % alc./vol. 60ibus. Always available in 22 oz bottles, and on draft."
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Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bs870621345:
Photo of bs870621345
Reviewed by bs870621345 from Iowa

3.79/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Huge thanks to DankTheTank for this one

Pours a deep cloudy amber color with an inch of white head. Leaves nice lacing down the glass.

Smell is slightly smoky, caramel, mainly herbal hops, citrus, and pine.

Taste is strong smoke and caramel, pine on the end that clears the palate. It makes me think this is a little faded, but still good.

Mouthfeel is full, not too much carbonation, lingers a little bit.

Drinkability is good, its pretty good, probably needs to be fresher, but I have no way of knowing.
Mar 03, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of maddogruss
Reviewed by maddogruss from New Jersey

3.61/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Had this on draft.
A: pours a dark, blood red with an off white head with nice retention and lacing.
S: not much if a smell; subtle sweetness
T: roasted toffee taste; subtle floral notes with an earthy aftertaste
M: full bodied and pretty smooth overall
D: nice feel and taste combo; nice beer
May 09, 2022
 
Rated: 3.4 by Oh_Dark_Star from Washington

May 08, 2019
 
Rated: 4.16 by foghornleghorn22 from Virginia

Aug 10, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by einman from Minnesota

Apr 24, 2018
Photo of the_benskii
Reviewed by the_benskii from Washington

3.56/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours ruby with foamy head which subdues into a thin lace that clings onto the walls into a pint glass. Smells biscuity and after warming up a bit more caramel-like. Taste has a huge earthy hop upfront kick with a strong malt backbone and toasty after taste. Feel and carbonation is normal and overall a decent beer for the price.
Apr 14, 2018
 
Rated: 3.89 by sisterofba from Maryland

Apr 07, 2018
 
Rated: 3.77 by BarrelAgedG from California

Mar 26, 2018
Photo of goinmobyle
Reviewed by goinmobyle from Utah

4.31/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Deep red color and forms a thick, creamy head when poured right. A well-rounded taste, definitely red!, with the imperial side peeking through the full malty body. @ 6.9%, packs a punch!
Mar 10, 2018
Photo of RB3
Reviewed by RB3 from Washington

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
A good dark pour. Smells OK but there is the sad hint of what is to come: A beautiful beer from an amazing brewery that tastes watered down somehow. Almost like it tries to reign in the hops and alcohol.

I worry that this is Ninkasi's new direction as a brewery.
Feb 16, 2018
 
Rated: 4.03 by ChuckTom from Arizona

Feb 11, 2018
 
Rated: 4.24 by Colton89 from Texas

Feb 09, 2018
Photo of Lingenbrau
Reviewed by Lingenbrau from Oregon

4.06/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Believer pours just as it should claiming the title 'Double Red'. It's aged brick appearance is exceptionally clean, and even more beautiful when held to light as ruby red highlights shine. The khaki, foamy head lingers around the circumference and just paints the glass with spots from head to toe.

Caramel, brown sugar, and sappy, earthy hops swarm out of the glass. A heavy malt sweetness is perceived in the aroma alone with suggestions of raisin and cooked dark cherries.

Very much brown sugary, the intense flavor is met with warmed biscuits, a heavy smear of caramel, and a hefty dose of pine. A wonderful rye like spice tingles on the front of the tongue.

The feel is quite polarizing. It is initially abundant with sweetness, but the floral bitterness seems to linger on forever. The spicy quality is enhanced by a solid medium carbonation and a finishing dryness. Hard to say where this lies exactly, but as with moth Ninkasi beers, I'd give the edge to the bitter side of the spectrum.

As far as reds go, this is pretty damn solid. Maybe a bit more aggressive than most might like, but this is in my wheelhouse. It's intensely bold and interesting, and I'd suggest it to anyone who is seeking just that. Cheers.
Jan 17, 2018
 
Rated: 3.86 by JamieCoxx from Washington

Jan 10, 2018
 
Rated: 3 by 1971bernat from Virginia

Jan 02, 2018
 
Rated: 4.11 by StormAles from Canada (ON)

Jul 22, 2017
Photo of VeganUndead
Reviewed by VeganUndead from Virginia

3.58/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Boring. Would have enjoyed it more either way, if it had more malty sweetness, or more hoppy bitterness, but its actually just middle of the road boring
Jul 11, 2017
Photo of crimsonfloyd
Reviewed by crimsonfloyd from California

4.34/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Dense reddish brown with cream color head. Smells of roses and berries with a caramel scent as it heats up. Wonderful taste of strawberries and a granular malt dimension. Hops have a grapefruit taste on the finish. Overall, a stellar red ale.
Jun 24, 2017
Photo of Keemohoppy
Reviewed by Keemohoppy from Colorado

3.82/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Easy drinking double red (never had such a thing). Color is a cloudy, dark amber. Robust hop aroma. Very flavorful but not overwhelming. Pairable but could stand on its own as well.
Jun 24, 2017
 
Rated: 3.68 by Needmorebeer312 from Washington

Jun 19, 2017
Believer from Ninkasi Brewing Company
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 542 ratings