Shark Attack
Port Brewing

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From:
Port Brewing
 
California, United States
Style:
Imperial Red Ale
Ranked #31
ABV:
9%
Score:
87
Ranked #16,508
Avg:
3.88 | pDev: 11.08%
Reviews:
326
Ratings:
809
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 21, 2023
Added:
Mar 07, 2008
Wants:
  33
Gots:
  85
Is it really safe to paddle out in our waters? It's impossible to know for sure. What we do know is that this is an incredibly distinctive and bold American red ale that attacks your taste buds with lethal amounts of hops which are balanced by a boat load of Crystal malt. If none of this fazes you, then maybe swimming in the shark filled waters is exactly where you belong. We'll see you in the lineup!

(2014 Winner Best of Show San Diego International Beer Festival)
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Beaver13:
Photo of Beaver13
Reviewed by Beaver13 from Colorado

3.58/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
22 oz bottle. Pours a reddish brown with a creamy off white head that retains well and laces the glass.

The aroma is sweet caramel malts, melon, and piney grapefruity hops and a touch of alcohol.

The flavor is sweet caramel malts, pepper, alcohol, sour apples and tarry hops. The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with a velvety finish.

Overall, almost an awesome beer. The flavor was a bit subdued and didn't do it for me.
Oct 04, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.5 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

May 21, 2023
 
Rated: 4.13 by atesus from California

Jun 14, 2022
 
Rated: 4.63 by Brian_Pelsh from California

Nov 28, 2021
 
Rated: 4.18 by dbauer from California

Oct 07, 2021
Photo of BillAfromSoCal
Reviewed by BillAfromSoCal from California

3.86/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Canned January 2021, consumed Aug 6 2021. Pours a clear dark copper color with a 1/2 finger of head that leaves little or no lacing. Smell and taste are both malty but the taste reveals a lot more hop than I expected. There is no overt indication of the 9% ABV. This one is smooth and could lead to downing too many too quickly for the high-ish ABV.
Aug 07, 2021
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
1 pt. 6 fl. oz. bottle, as Port Brewing Shark Attack Double Red Ale, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9.0%. Hazy reddish brown colour, moderate off-white head with an orangey hue. Lovely and complex aroma of fruity and piney American hops, on a sweetish background of crystal malts. The flavour is medium sweet with plenty of crystal malts, and loads of resinous and grapefruity hops. The bitterness in the finish is substantial, but not too extreme. Good stuff.
May 10, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by Urk1127 from New Jersey

Dec 01, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by paulish from New York

Oct 29, 2020
Photo of cjeep
Reviewed by cjeep from Pennsylvania

4.24/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
have to say, i like it even though i think my can is a bit on the old side. i think it says best by 5/31/20 but its a bit distorted so i can squint and think it's 6/30. consumed 9/18/20 so a bit past. but it's working for me.
L: from the can. the can is plain but gets the message across.
S: caramel, some sweetness, a bit of pine lurking around. very nice, enticing, exotic.
T: for me, delivers on the nose. add a bit of burnt sugar. hop bitterness and astringency on the aftertaste. it may not be for everyone but it seriously works for me.
F: smooth and rich
O: this is a winner in my book. I see other comparing to Tongue Buckler, and both of these rank highly in my book.
Sep 19, 2020
Photo of Jugs_McGhee
Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado

2.91/5  rDev -25%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Currently #66 in the top ranked American Imperial Red Ale beers list.

CAN: 16 fl oz pull-tab with a faded red label. Freshest by: 06/30/20.

Served cold into a nonic pint glass.

Pine, caramel, floral hops, crystal malt sweetness, subtly toasted amber malt/red malt. Not as bready as many imperial amber ales. The pungent pine is nice.

Unfortunately, some of its alcohol warmth does come through, reducing its drinkability substantially. It's a big bold beer but I'd like to see them dial back the ABV a bit.

Finishes dry which helps amplify its detrimental lingering bitterness.

It's a drinkable imperial red ale, but it won't soon unseat Nugget Nectar for the beer to be in the uncommon style. Its booziness is off-putting.

C / AVERAGE
May 26, 2020
Photo of JamarcusMarinovich
Reviewed by JamarcusMarinovich from California

4.11/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured an awesomely beautiful hazy, coppery-red into pint glass. Half-finger of foam with minor lacing, just the way I like it...this is a wonderful look. Nose is not nearly as evident as the look would have you think...some hop notes for sure but not overpowering. Perhaps a bit floral, but I'm not getting much. Malty forward taste with lingering hop bite on the tongue, very well balanced between the two major players. Malt is light roast, carmel-y tinge while hop bitterness is not overwhelming grass/pine/flower, lingering on the back of the tongue. Alcohol (at 9%) doesn't punch you but I can certainly see this sneaking up on you. The balance here is what makes this a winner to me...malt, hops, and ABV are woven together nicely with none of them overpowering. I think this might become a rotation staple in my beer fridge.
May 25, 2020
 
Rated: 3.36 by RDW from Nebraska

May 24, 2020
 
Rated: 4.02 by jmbeerdude91 from Arizona

Mar 04, 2020
 
Rated: 4.25 by JuiceMan818 from California

Jan 14, 2020
Photo of BB1313
Reviewed by BB1313 from Ohio

3.88/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
16oz can poured into a tulip. Pours an auburn/amber with ruby hues and nice clarity; small light khaki head that fades leaving decent retention and lacing. Great color. The aromas are malt forward along with caramel and citrus. The flavors follow the nose. Lots of pine and grapefruit. Some floral notes. More caramel coming through. Solid bitterness. Solid malt backbone. Bittersweet. Mild spiciness. Some subtle rye and black pepper in the mix. Mild warmth in the finish, but the alcohol is ultimately well hidden. Finishes dry. Mouthfeel is full-bodied with moderate to active carbonation. It's sharp, fluffy and smooth. This one is dangerously drinkable.

This is a nice "Double Red Ale". It's basically what you would expect from the style. Lots of malts and hops. The craftsmanship is on impressive and really takes this one to the next level. It's enjoyable and fun to drink. Well done.
Jan 03, 2020
Photo of pabloski
Reviewed by pabloski

4.53/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
It's excellent! If could brew it I'd make it...I just might try! Not living in the southern part of the state I don't get it often.
I would drink it all the time it's that good! It's what a red ale should be, clean, smooth, and mellow. I gave it low ratings on the smell, there's no strong hop odor just beer smell and that's okay. It is like the old days northern California red ale before it went commercial.
Nov 24, 2019
 
Rated: 3.66 by Avitra from California

Oct 25, 2019
Photo of RaulMondesi
Reviewed by RaulMondesi from California

3.63/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
I see that this is a big one. Nope, it’s not a gold fish Red Ale. Blue Fin? Nah, not even close to being big enough. Shamu? Now we are talking. At 9.5%, this bad boy struts in the room large and in charge. But does it deliver? Meh. I feel like if you are going to put the word “imperial” in front of a style, you better step up your game. Imperial is like the Romanov’s, you know? I’ll even call Grace Kelly an imperial being. But Shark Attack? Nope.

In the end, it’s not bad, but it’s just a little too lackluster. Hints of toffee and caramel, slight bite from the 9.5%...

It just doesn’t do it for the Raul man.

Peace!
Sep 20, 2019
Shark Attack from Port Brewing
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 809 ratings