Big Red
Brewery Vivant

Big RedBig Red
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From:
Brewery Vivant
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
American IPA
Ranked #2,222
ABV:
6%
Score:
87
Ranked #17,420
Avg:
3.86 | pDev: 11.4%
Reviews:
105
Ratings:
502
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 02, 2023
Added:
Feb 13, 2011
Wants:
  17
Gots:
  73
Formerly Big Red Coq

Expect hints of mango, pineapple and citrus to hit your nose with an assertive hop presence. Named lovingly after our mascot, Big Red is a fantastic Citra forward IPA with plenty of crystal malt.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by GTSeabolt:
Photo of GTSeabolt
Reviewed by GTSeabolt from Oregon

3.89/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Boozy taste overpowers what I would have hoped for in a red hoppy ale. Strong beer. Whatever craft there is seems to be disguised by high alcohol content and heavy hopping.
Jul 26, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.69 by smithj4 from New York

Jun 02, 2023
Photo of Bitterbill
Reviewed by Bitterbill from Wyoming

4.12/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
In the box from City Brew Tours. Canned March 7th 2023.

It pours a clear red/amber with a finger of foam, lots of lacing.

Big citrus notes in the smell with some fruity notes of pineapple.

Taste is grapefruit citrus, pineapple, some caramel malt, nice balance with the hops and malt. Still, I reckon that it's a west coast style IPA.

Medium bodied with good carbonation and very smooth and easy drinking.

Excellent!
Apr 28, 2023
Photo of MaltsOfGlory
Reviewed by MaltsOfGlory from Oregon

3.76/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
16oz can, classy name

Pours over two fingers of dense tan head into my Willi glass. Retention is great, hardly losing any head after a couple of minutes. Initial lacing looks pretty nice. Body is a deep brownish red, with orange hues. Looks very nice so far.

Nose is definitely citrus forward, lemon. Maybe faint pineapple, but that either gets lost in the malt, or more likely - was never very potent to begin with, because the malt is also lacking considerably. Some faint graham cracker malt. Not getting any farmhouse yeast characteristics. Things don’t really come together here, whether it be from lack of depth, or just the aroma’s blending poorly together. It’s ok, but not very good.

The flavor leans a lot more on that graham cracker malt, which is a welcome shift of attention. Faint caramel, toffee. Hops don’t have a big impact, faint citrus, some melon flavors - again, it’s not “incorrect” but citrus and malty just don’t go together imo. Flavor is a serious improvement from the nose, the malts are nice, though I would still always prefer a piney hop profile 100% of the time.

Carbonation is on the higher side. Body has a decent thickness to it. A touch of sweetness, but generally low. Bitterness is moderate and certainly welcome. A very solid mouthfeel.

Drinkability is pretty high, it’s reasonably balanced, and pretty tasty.

Appearance turned out very nice. Retention was pretty good, and the lacing very thick.

Overall a solid red. Not the hop profile I want, and the malts are just slightly inconsistent, but a pretty good beer for the most part.
Dec 12, 2021
 
Rated: 3.79 by MJ64 from Mississippi

Jun 15, 2021
 
Rated: 4.24 by Z-man from Michigan

May 24, 2021
Photo of Franziskaner
Reviewed by Franziskaner from Missouri

3.73/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Dark copper colored with a quarter inch of beige on top. Lightly hazy in complexion. Aroma is of citra hops, lightly bready malt, and lightly fruity yeast. I taste bready malt, chestnuts, and caramel. The mouth is light and refreshing.
Mar 23, 2021
Photo of Cylinsier
Reviewed by Cylinsier from Pennsylvania

3.86/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16 oz can

Pours mostly clear reddish amber, eggshell head retains as a film.

Aroma of biscuit malts and citrus and pine hops.

Flavor of biscuit malts, citrus zest, and piney and earthy hops.

Medium body, tingly carbonation on the tongue.

Very drinkable. Decent flavor. Very attractive pour. It's a farmhouse ale of Belgian influence according to the brewer, but you could tell someone this is an old school APA and it would pass for that. Reminds me of beers I used to like before all the current trendy styles made them a little rarer. Would drink again.
Feb 03, 2021
Photo of Piwo
Reviewed by Piwo from Michigan

3.86/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Got this beer as a Christmas gift from my significant other, never had a memorable red ale before this.
The beer pours a nice, deep reddish-orange color, with a small head. Most of what I smell is a bright, hoppy aroma, with some malt undertones. The taste, like the smell, is very hop-forward, having a very nice citrus taste like they brag about on the can. The malts are more of an undertone, but become a bit more prominent as it warms. Finish is hoppy, almost tangy. Mouthfeel is very pleasant, light and not too carbonated.
I'm usually not a fan of hop-forward beers, but this one was a pleasant surprise. Wish I tasted the malts a bit more, but overall I would definitely recommend trying this.
Jan 18, 2021
 
Rated: 4.47 by RBorsato from Virginia

Jan 13, 2021
Photo of beergoot
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado

3.91/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Deep copper colored body topped with an immensely thick and creamy head. Big malt aroma; slightly sweet with a caramel edge. Nice malt-forward flavor, a bit a caramel with a hint of roasted nuts; moderate sweetness perceived with a decent hop bitterness counterpoint; a bit of cinnamon spiciness. Medium-heavy body; soft and prickly on the palate; semi-sweet overall yet has a lurking dry edge to mix things up.

This make for a fine, all-around beer. Malty and tasting with a slight spiciness and hop bitterness to liven things up a bit.
Nov 22, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by Humanusfermentum from Virginia

Nov 13, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by Tom6471 from Michigan

Nov 11, 2020
Photo of metter98
Reviewed by metter98 from New York

3.98/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A: The beer is hazy reddish amber in color. It poured with a quarter finger high beige colored head that died down, consistently leaving a narrow collar around the edge and lots of lacing on the surface and down the sides of the glass.
S: Light to moderate aromas of citrusy hops along with notes of caramel malts.
T: The taste follows the smell and has a bit stronger flavors of caramel malts, but these still are overshadowed by those of the Citra hops. There is a light to moderate amount of bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: I thought that the taste of this beer has a very nice balance and contrast between the malts and hops.

Serving type: can
Oct 26, 2020
 
Rated: 3.84 by WDJersey from Colorado

Oct 11, 2020
 
Rated: 3.96 by Dharmelink from Wisconsin

Oct 07, 2020
 
Rated: 4.12 by eljabak from Michigan

Jun 04, 2020
Photo of snaotheus
Reviewed by snaotheus from Washington

3.99/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2020-05-31
16oz can served in a little glass. Gift from an out of state online friend.

Pours darkish amber with a smallish head and medium carbonation. Smell is bright citrus, lots of lemon.

Taste is hop foroward with a toffee malt backbone. Maybe a slight bit of funk or woodiness.

Mouthfeel is fairly light, almost crisp. Overall, nice beer.
May 31, 2020
 
Rated: 4.02 by Beer_Teej from Michigan

May 28, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by rare_bird from Michigan

Dec 03, 2019
Big Red from Brewery Vivant
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 502 ratings