Big Red
Southern Tier Brewing Company

Big RedBig Red
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From:
Southern Tier Brewing Company
 
New York, United States
Style:
Imperial Red Ale
ABV:
9%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.87 | pDev: 10.59%
Reviews:
321
Ratings:
399
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Aug 06, 2019
Added:
Jul 04, 2006
Wants:
  12
Gots:
  3
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by WVbeergeek:
Photo of WVbeergeek
Reviewed by WVbeergeek from West Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Picked up for a good price at the Six Pack shop in Moon Township...it appears a caramel amber red hue with a large tuffet of caramel tan head after slowly dwindling down it leaves fine annular specks of lacing around my chalice. Aromatics don't let me down with large doses of herbal grassy citrus noble hops...Hallertau both regular and dry hopped in this one, read the label it's an Imperial Red ale designed around different varieties of Hallertau...kick ass. Malt presence is rather imperial with big lucious bountiful caramel toned breadiness to balance out all that hopage. Flavor is upfront with the bitterness and simply bursts open the door with hop flavors like citrus and grassy herbal hop tones matched beautifully with a caramel toasted nut malt bill that balanced so well yet remained aggressive throughout the 22oz. portion. Mouthfeel is medium to fuller bodied to me and has very smooth even carbonation all topped with streaks of oily hop resins running along the palate. Drinkability...so freakin' effortless the flavor keeps me craving this succulent masterpiece while the alcohol warns me not to over consume.
Jul 20, 2006
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by brittanylicious from Indiana

Aug 06, 2019
Photo of barczar
Reviewed by barczar from Kentucky

3.87/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This one got away from me in the cellar, then I figured I'd just sit on it for a while. After 5 years...

Score is adjusted to current average.

Aroma is floral, with notes of deep caramel, dates, muddled dark fruit, and cardboard.

Flavor retains that amber malt fruitiness, with a touch of medicinal phenolic and tongue numbing warmth. Backbone is fairly sweet, but the fruitiness counters nicely, carrying into a moderately bitter, boozy finish.

Didn't try it fresh, but it aged into a nice beer.
Sep 16, 2016
 
Rated: 4.25 by McBraniel from Virginia

Nov 02, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by athomasPSU from Massachusetts

Oct 18, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by trxxpaxxs from New York

Oct 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by BMBCLT from South Carolina

Aug 04, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by HoppyBastard1 from Pennsylvania

Jun 15, 2014
Photo of mrfrancis
Reviewed by mrfrancis from Kentucky

4.03/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
A: Pours a cloudy golden amber with a tight, clinging white head.

S: Aromas of caramel, heavy cream, biscuit, grass, lemon, straw, wildflowers, herbs, and mild spices are present on the nose.

T: Notes of lemon, orange, herbs, grass, straw, honey, flowers, and spices give way to notes of caramel, toffee, cream, biscuit, nougat, and roasted nuts. The finish is smooth and mild with a pleasant combination of caramel, cream, biscuit, honey, grass, herb, and lemon flavors.

M: Full in body and neither dry nor sticky. Carbonation is simultaneously delicate and firm. Alcohol presence is very subdued.

O: An awesome amber/red ale. Well-balanced for such a big, robust beer.
May 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by JimmyPhillips from New York

May 03, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by harpus from Alabama

Apr 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Shagator from Kentucky

Jan 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by BillRoth from Maryland

Dec 15, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by Alex5 from South Carolina

Dec 10, 2013
Photo of hardy008
Reviewed by hardy008 from Minnesota

2.73/5  rDev -29.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
Pours hazy amber with a small off white head, which has decent retention and lacing. The aroma has spicy hops, some earth, grass, and biscuit malt.

Tastes sweeter than expected, based on the aroma. there is caramel and biscuit malt, spicy hops, grass, and citrus zest. This was most likely hoppy when fresh. I didn't know until I checked this site that this ber is retired. Since there is no date on the bottle, I had no way of knowing I picked up an old beer. Since there is no bottle date, I am going to judge any problems I might have with this beer as the brewery's fault. It should be mandatory to date all cans and bottles.

Medium to full bodied, with low carbonation. There is a lingering spicy hop flavor, from the Hallertau hops. Not my favorite Southern Tier beer. I'm not sure if it would have been a lot better when it was fresh?
Nov 03, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by Mlawrence from Georgia

Nov 02, 2013
 
Rated: 5 by golf4collet from West Virginia

Nov 02, 2013
Photo of CloudStrife
Reviewed by CloudStrife from New York

3.94/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22oz bottle poured into a snifter. Dusty and off a shelf today, havent seen one in years.

A: Pours a cloudy orangish brown with an off white head. Leaves some nice lacing on the sides of the glass.

S: An aged profile going on with this one, can tell it has mellowed out over the years. Malts are dominate with a bready aroma. Perhaps a touch of oxidation. Hops are in there giving a bit of earthy quality.

T: Nice flavors going on here, hops have held on well and add a fruity characteristic. Malts are solid backing it up nicely. Everything seems to have melded together here.

M: Medium to full body with mild carbonation. Smooth and creamy mouthfeel. Alcohol is nicely hidden.

Overall I'm real happy to have found this one. Had it many years ago and am surprised how the flavors have aged and blended together.
Oct 14, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by clay23 from New York

Jul 03, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by TheBeerAlmanac from Kentucky

Jun 23, 2013
Big Red from Southern Tier Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 399 ratings