Crimson
Upland Brewing Company

CrimsonCrimson
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From:
Upland Brewing Company
 
Indiana, United States
Style:
Flanders Red Ale
Ranked #14
ABV:
10%
Score:
94
Ranked #2,414
Avg:
4.23 | pDev: 10.4%
Reviews:
81
Ratings:
426
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 16, 2022
Added:
Feb 05, 2012
Wants:
  296
Gots:
  138
A stronger version of a Flanders Red Ale aged in previously beer-stored bourbon barrels for some light oak/bourbon character.

Previously known as Malefactor and Gilgamesh
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by SHODriver:
Photo of SHODriver
Reviewed by SHODriver from North Carolina

3.93/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
A: Poured into a Duvel tulip to a nice deep red that is almost brown. Slightly hazy and topped by a dense three finger head which retains well and fades slowly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing
S: Smells of sourness, oak, sour cherries, and vanilla with some slight toasted malt. HInts of funk and chemicals on the back end(chemicals in a good way)
T: Taste is tart cherries, smooth vanilla, toasted oak, slight band aid, hint of caramel. and slight plastic. Swallow is more cherries, and oak with more caramel, vanilla and oak with some lingering funk.
M: This beer is about the middle of the road when it comes to mouthfeel and slightly syrupy. Carbonation is adequate and just below prickly while the acidity gives the beer a drying finish.
O: It started out great on the nose but the taste just couldn't keep the momentum going. Really nice complexity and surprisingly gentle on the palate. I expected this one to be a bit of a bruiser from the nose but it didn't punch me in the palate. Worth a try but there are others that are better.
Apr 27, 2018
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.25 by retry4z from California

Jun 16, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by shelby415 from Oregon

Aug 16, 2021
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.62/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
So this is a review of "Gilgamesh" which was consumed at March Madness 2017. I still have a bottle of this in the cellar, might be a good time to crack it next time the boys get together.

Anyhoo, this is basically an imperial flanders ale coming in at double digit abv strength. Pours a ruddy brown and red, there is nothing appearance wise that looks different compared to a normal strength flanders. Thin beige head, 1/5". The aroma was far more powerful, there is amplified sourness for a flanders and plenty of alcohol to notice aroma wise, almost to the point that the word fusel enters the lexicon.

EDIT: So we did crack the 2 last bottles: Summer 2022, and then March Madness 2023. Summer 2022 bottle was probably about a 3.4, was disappointing, March Madness 2023 was much improved like a 3.8, so I'm just going to leave the same score here as before.

The taste of the beer takes on some like cherry like flanders notes, but it is still largely overwhelmed by the hugeness of the sourness and alcohol. This is a bottle from the lactic acid war era. And acidic it is. More red wine than bourbon notes. Lower carbonation keeps the sting present at all stages. Decent in smaller quantities. I would prolly die doming this. If you're up for a challenge, this is a beer that puts it up.
Oct 14, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by Pearlstreetbrewingco from Florida

May 10, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by rare_bird from Michigan

Mar 10, 2020
 
Rated: 4.32 by jbertsch from Massachusetts

Feb 16, 2020
Photo of clayrock81
Reviewed by clayrock81 from Florida

4/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured a reddish copper body with minimal head and no lace. Aroma is booze, wood, some tart fruits like cherries and hints of sweet malts. Beer is light to medium bodied, goes down smooth, sharp but not a biting sour edge, has a cherry taste with hints of caramel malts and kept smooth by a woodiness and finishes slightly boozy. Good balance and easy to drink and maybe not spot-on for style but worth trying anyway.
Jan 18, 2020
 
Rated: 4.52 by markallmon from Tennessee

Jan 07, 2020
 
Rated: 4.3 by Scottsbeer from Florida

Oct 17, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by mwvman from Indiana

Oct 08, 2019
 
Rated: 4.06 by Futbolmanby from Michigan

Sep 22, 2019
Photo of beersampler6
Reviewed by beersampler6 from Michigan

3.54/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Quite a nice sour - not really my style but I could appreciate the skill it took in making this beer. Great balance of the bourbon barrel aging, sour puckering fruit and malt. Looks fairly red-orange with just a little fluffy white head and spotty lingering lacing. Aromas matched the flavors with the bourbon, wood, tart ripe fruit and malt all coming through clearly. Not too sour, not too much warming alcohol. Smooth fairly mild mouthfeel and good carbonation.
Jul 14, 2019
 
Rated: 4.08 by BeerForMuscle from New Jersey

Jun 23, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by Gagnonsux from Texas

Jun 09, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by teamwiggum from Wisconsin

Jun 01, 2019
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4.67/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Formerly known as Gilgamesh; later known as Crimson.

Unknown vintage; drank 7/28/15 @ Sheffield's.

Semi-opaque red appearance.

Minimal tan head; minimal lace.

Oak, mildly tart cherry & marshmallow notes in the nose.

Medium mouthfeel.

Cherry, oak & marshmallow flavors up front; a mildly tart finish.

My dream sour; balanced, flavorful and not puckering. Delicious.
May 06, 2019
 
Rated: 4.07 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

Jan 27, 2019
 
Rated: 4.05 by ADKbeerguy from New York

Dec 27, 2018
 
Rated: 4.06 by Grackos from Florida

Aug 25, 2018
Crimson from Upland Brewing Company
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 426 ratings