Feeding Frenzy
Pizza Port Solana Beach

 

 

 

 

 

 

On-tap at FFF XV and poured into tasting glass.

A - Pours a reddish/copper color, cream-colored head, thin collar.

S - Sweet roasted malts, slight sugary sweetness, nice level of hoppy bitterness, some burnt sugars in there as well.

T - More hops then the nose suggests, pine, some citrus notes, sweet malts, slight roast, some caramel. I was surprised how much more hoppy this was on the plate when compared to the nose.

M - Medium, light carbonation, creamy finish.

O - A nice American Strong that I'd try again. Nothing mind-blowing here, just simply solid and above average.

 

Sample had the FFF Anniversary Party. Served in a plastic sampling cup.

A: Pours a deep purplish red combination with an off white head. Leaves a trail of sticky lace on the way down.

S: Smells of your typical red ale. Candied fruit sweetness, red apples and some nice caramel malts.

T: Bitter hops and unripe apples upfront with some toasted malts cutting the fruity qualities. Ends with a nice grapefruit.

M: Medium to light bodied with a sweet fruit left across the palate.

O: Nice red, but pretty typical. Wasn't out of this world and slightly forgettable.

Consumed May 30, 2011 at Pizza Port San Clemente. Noted as 8.5% ABV on menu. Style is referred to as "double red ale".

Beer is dark brown until held to strong light, when it presents as somewhere between caramel brown and deep maroon. A very creamy one-finger head provides uniform and remarkable sheeting on the glass sides.

Aromas of caramel malt, with a slight edge of piny hop.

Flavor is typical red ale but 'roided out: caramel malt upfront with a hefty dose of bitter, piny and grapefruit hops at the back end. Actually somewhat similar to Stone's Arrogant Bastard in overall profile.

Mouthfeel is slightly thick with a hint of dry tingle on the tongue.

Pretty easy to drink, especially considering the high ABV, but not something I'd go to on a regular basis.

On-tap at Beachwood Brewing

A: The pour is amber in color with a creamy off-white head.

S: A nice creamy caramel aroma to the beer along with some toffee and toasted bread. Some piney hops as well as a bit of floral hops and grass. Sort of just okay.

T: The flavor is a tad better. Grassy hops along with some floral notes to t and a light pine bitterness. Caramel maltiness gives the beer its sweetness. A bit of toffee and bread but definitely some booze in there.

M: Medium in body with a smooth feel on the tongue and medium carbonation.

O: Really a disappointing effort from Pizza Port. Mediocre red ale at best.

Full spectrum of Pizza Port brews out tonight (well, that night, not actually tonight because it was a little bit ago and also it is 10 in the morning). Review from notes.

A - Reddish brown beer with a white foamy head that left behind some decent lacing.

S - Apparenty this is an Imperial Red. Caramel malts, pine, resin, grapefruit, earth notes, and some grassy/floral hops.

T - Not sure what the ABV on this is, but you do pick up a lot of alcohol, may work for some, but if it's not your thing I'd pass on this one. Bitter, with grassy and pine hops comprising most of the taste and only letting the caramel backbone peak through a little bit.

M - Slightly dry, a little sticky, medium body and carbonation.

O - Not sure what to make of Imperial Reds, but I don't suspect this is the best example. Not a bad beer, but with Pizza Ports many other fine offerings this one would move to the back of the line.

Pours a ruddy orange brown. Surprisingly huge white foam head.

Smells like pine sap, heavily of solvent alcohol, and a bit of grapefruit rind. Bitter bitter bitter.

Taste has way too much alochol, otherwise pleasant. Solventy, with deep, dank pine needles, grapefruit husk and bitter pink meat, and a splash, just a splash, of caramel.

Eh. Unbalanced, which I don't mind, too much alcohol in the flavor, which I do mind. Nice and thick, though.

Reviewed from notes. This was one 4.5 oz. taster of a flight of four I sampled at PP San Clemente in late May, 2011.

This is classified on the site as a Strong Ale, but this was billed as an Imperial Red at the brewery. The other reviewer also referred to it as an imperial red, so that that FWIW.

This beer is a lot like Shark Bite (in the same flight I sampled) only bigger. It is sweet on the nose, not so much nutty as roasty and a much more grassy and earthy hop oil scent present. The taste is a lot more hop forward than Shark Bite. The grassy qualities are held in check by a nice nutty malt bill. Interesting combo of flavors, but tasty.

Some nice unexpected bitterness comes into play on the linger. A nice Imperial Red. Not the best I've ever had, but a good effort.

5/22/2011

On tap at Pizza Port Ocean Beach for their first anniversary. Tulip. This is an Imperial Red from San Clemente.

A: Deep crimson with perfect clarity. The massive off white head is frothy, leaving behind much lacing. Great color.

S: Blend of aggressive pine resin, grapefruit, and caramel malt. Lightly floral. Great nose. Some alcohol is apparent.

T: Orange, grapefruit, and pine, with an upper moderate bitterness. This hops are nearly balanced by the caramel malt. Alcohol is evident but not out of place. Nice flavor.

M: Medium in body with moderate carbonation. Mouthfeel is sticky and dry.

Overall: A pretty damn good Imperial Red.