Flipside Red IPA | Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

2.85/5  rDev -24.8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

Nice looking label art. This is one of the better amber ales that I have had. There is a fair amount of malts to balance out the hops, slight caramel, slight floral. Cheers! C

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4.25/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This one is a nice, snappy and refreshing red IPA...too bad it's not available all year. Have a few bottles remaining from last November and they still taste great. It just gets most things right....not too much of anything and just tastes great. I'll be picking up a few six packs again once available. Try it!

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4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours a clear copper color. One inch head of an off-white color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of spicy hops, rye, slight sweet malt, hint of caramel malt, and slight alcohol. Fits the style of American Amber/Red Ale. Mouth feel is smooth and clean, with an average carbonation level. There is an elevated bitterness and dryness. Tastes of spicy hops, rye, slight sweet malt, hint of citrus hops, hint of caramel malt, and slight alcohol. Overall, good appearance, blend, body, and aroma.

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3.67/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pours amber in color with a 3 finger pale tan head that leaves great lacing.

Aroma of citrus and tropical fruits with light caramel

Taste is more malt forward. Sweet light toast, then citric.

Medium in body, yet sticky. Lightly crisp with great retention. Slightly astringent.

An easy drinker. Well balanced and fruity.

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3.75/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Part of a variety 12-pack Safeway $13.88
Deep amber color
Cinnamon, caramel smell
Medium-heavy mouthfeel
Medium carbonation
Cinnamon spice tastes, malt flavor, can taste the alcohol
Overall a good beer. I would rate it higher if the alcohol taste was more hidden, but I do like this one. I would buy it again.

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4.01/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours very dark amber - almost brown. Aroma is resinous and citrus. Taste is the same; it's relatively hoppy with just a enough malt sweetness and not a ton of bitterness on the back end. Feel is light-medium bodied with medium carbonation. Overall, it was a decent Red IPA - haven't had too many great ones or too many bad ones and this one falls right in that range. Would make a great autumn beer.

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3.98/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle from 4-way IPA variety 12-pack
Look: pours deep reddish amber with a thick frothy tan head about an inch thick. head retention is good and some decent lacing is observed.
Smell: darker caramelly malts and citrusy, and herbal hop aromas. a hint of toffee.
Taste: follows aroma with a malt forward theme but its combined with a bold, almost intense bitterness that smashes the palate.
Feel: medium bodied, with an oily and rich texture. pronounced astringency and lively carbonation. Finish is long with lingering bitterness and mild sweetness.
Overall: if you like either amber/red ales or IPAs you will enjoy this one. the malt combination is flavorful and the IBUs are such that there's no denying this is a full-on iPA. I like it.

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4.02/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a glass.

Very nice!
Red color. Creamy tan head. Lots of lacing. Slight haze. Great fresh aroma with hops and sweetened citrus. Taste of hops and citrus has a nice pop, with a strong malty backbone coming through. A solid medium body with a little ale stickiness.

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3.94/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Deep red with white foamy head and good lacing.
N: Malty hops, some citrus, and floral.
T: A smokey hops with a slight sweetness of citrus and a soft malt.
M: Medium
O: A nice ale, refreshing and good change of pace. Well done.

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3.63/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.25

Started out strong and then it got bitter...way bitter...

I have to say, this brew started out blowing me away, from the look and smell all the way to the mouthfeel. It is a very appealing red-colored ale, crystal clear with reddish foam. The foam has staying power and very thick coating for a lace I have not seen in quite some time out of a beer - it was impressive to behold. The smell was a juicy, mouthwatering smell of citrus - more sweet than tangy and I just couldn't wait to sip the beer. Then the mouthfeel - quite possibly the creamiest IPA I have every had sloshing across my tongue - again, impressive to experience.

But here's where the story takes an unexpected turn - the taste was just plain bitter. The taste is a hop-forward, smack-you-int-the-face flavor of what makes an IPA, an IPA, but way more than I prefer. I was hoping to pull out some of that juiciness that tingled my nose - but nope. Even as the beer warmed, it was strong hops overpowering anything I could pull out of the brew. Overall, it's not a bad beer. I'm sure there are many that will find this quite enjoyable, but for me this will always be a beer I won't forget, but unfortunately for all the wrong reasons.

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3.92/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured into a custom shaped grip glass: color is copper, transparent, head presented at least 1/2 inch thick, then dissipates to a thin top.

Smell is blend of caramel malt, toast, earthy malt notes and blended hop aromas (pine, earth, citrus).

Taste is similar with light toast and caramel malt, earthy malts, pine/earth/citrus hops.

Mouthfeel is moderate, light sweetness and then drying.

Overall a good and easy drinking red ipa.

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4.25/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This is WAY easily a 4 rating in my opinion. This is PERFECTLY balanced the way a malt head would like it. I like hoppy ones as well, but this nails it for you malty non-hopheads. Hopheads will like this brew too.

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4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottled 12-14-17
Glowing red/amber with a 1/2" off white head that retains at 1/8".
Spicy, grassy, faintly citrus-y hops over caramel malt.
Malts and hops play well here -- lots of flavor from both. Caramel sweetness but dries out quickly with a citrus/spice hop combo.
Medium body. Some heat. Dry finish, bitterness lingers for a moment...all enjoyable and balanced.
Really nice beer, will look forward to getting this in another variety pack later in the year hopefully.

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3.77/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance - Pours deep reddish brown with nice light tan head that settles to a thin film. Strings of lacing all around the glass.

Aroma - Picking up some light malt, caramel, biscuit. Very light citrus/pine hiding underneath.

Taste - The taste is more malt, caramel and biscuit just like the aroma. I will say the hops come out more in the taste, slightly bitter finish.

Feel - Medium bodied nicely carbonated with a light dry finish.

Overall - A decent enough beer just not digging the flavors.

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3.77/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pours a mostly clear amber with a white head. Smells of malts, caramel, and hops. Tastes of lots of sweet malt, caramel, tropical fruits, and fresh hops. Medium in both body and carbonation. Overall this is a good red IPA that seems to me to focus more on the malt aspect.

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4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: crystal clear; deep amber - almost mahogany in color; 2 finger tan head that receded to a thin cap; nice lacing;

S: citrus, pine, earthy, caramel;

T: citrus, pine, and caramel playing off each other from start to finish; mild to moderate bitterness at the end;

M: medium bodied; moderate carbonation; moderately dry finish;

O: really enjoyable;

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2.84/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

...color, smell, feel...blah blah blah...what the others have said - but the biggest point of this is that it tastes like a hoppy brown that was homebrewed with extract. Not bad...but not what I am looking for in an IPA. Sorry SN...one of the few that does not make the grade :(
We expect better from you...

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4.47/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Came in the 4-Way IPA pack this year. I like it, but it seems more like a hoppy brown ale to me than a red.

L: Pours a clear, deep brown with a thick and fine khaki head. Retention is excellent, and lots of lacing sticks to the glass. Reddish, but lacking in that ruby glow red ales usually have in the light.

S: Woody, and a little smoky. Charred oak and roasted almond blend with whole grain and oat bread, caramel, and some grassy notes in the middle, finishing in zesty orange, pepper and thyme.

T: Very simple profile. I wouldn't even say it's hoppy enough to be considered an IPA at all. Comforting mildly sweet bread crust, then blackberry jam, orange rind and then roasted malts and wood smoke. A touch of herbal character on the finish keeps it a sipping beer.

F: Admirable. A little clingy with the char notes on the finish, but nearly perfect. SN brews always are...

O: It seems more and more evident to me that IRAs (or red IPAs) can vary excessively from brewery to brewery. I like the ones that are more on the malty side myself, but this one just seems to have flopped over the line into the brown zone.

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3.93/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: A brown ruby color, clear, with a tan head.

S: Caramel, with bread notes, and some grapefruit peel.

T: Caramel sweetness, with dark bread, a touch of molasses. Light citrus with a toasty finish.

M: Medium light in body, fairly high carbonation, and a slight bitter cling in the finish.

O: Overall a pretty damn fine beer. Really enjoyed it.

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3.87/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beautiful orange-tinged red body that is perfectly clear, fine orange-hued head that leaves layers of lace on the glass. The smell and taste are a good blend of rich, toasty malt and piney, citric hops. The respective sweetness and bitterness are very well balanced. The overall flavor, however, lacks a clear direction; it reminds me of a big but even-keeled German brew. The body is moderate-full, with prefect lovely carbonation.
This was a good beer, but I like mine to be at least a liiiiittle off-balance to give it direction. This had flavor to spare and was also balanced, and yet I still found it almost middling. Balance is a beautiful thing, but when it comes to beer, tip it one way or the other.

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3.7/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

12oz bottled 12/27/17 poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass at fridge temp 6.2% ABV. The beer pours bright rusty red amber with plentiful red tinted khaki head. Retention and lacing are well above average. The aroma is slight caramel, citrus and pine. The flavor is dry not sweet caramel, with highlights of fruit, citrus and pine. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, smoothly carbonated and dry in the finish. The bitterness is subtle and clean. Overall, very good. I have found red IPAs, in general, to be enjoyable only as the first beer of a session. This is a beautiful beer and nice to drink. Nothing earth shattering though.

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3.73/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A pretty red beer pours out, Sierra Nevada always brings the professional grade clarity and this one is no exception. Gleaming as they say in close proximity to the cube. 1/2" off white head on the top. The aroma was similar to Loakal Red sans the wood, but the Chinook (I believe) hop seems more than present.

Taste is nice, the heavier malts are bouyed by a high degree of carbonation and those Chinook hops. Its pretty crisp despite having that heavier malt presence that tends to weigh things down in terms of conventional ipa usage these days. Of course when I say Chinook, that means a big green blast of bitter pine if being foisted upon the drinker. Leans way more pine than grapefruit.

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3.72/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

12 oz bottle pkgd 12/14/17 opened on 1/11/18

A deep amber color with ruby highlights. Totally clear. The foam tower is impressive, off-white, sea foamy and bubbly, the retention is excellent as is the sticky lacing left-overs.

A sweet caramel, slightly oakie aroma of this amber type malt is very impressive. Leafy, dry hop notes followed by tangy and sweet tropical hop effects round it out. The three big hop strains, Simcoe, Citra and Centennial used in this brew really add up to a very interesting and bold nose.

The robust and heady amber malt pops out in the flavor first, roasty caramel style that is medium to full in body and feel, complex in flavor. The hops combine to be very earthy-dry-leafy and medium level bitter. The aroma is pretty sweet but the hop taste is mostly high aloha bitter and earthy. The finish has a sour, malty and leafy hop combo that really lingers.

This one has a very old school, alpha bitter hop expression. The balance for an "ipa" isva bit malt heavy. The malt is complex and enjoyable but a bit to brash for the style. Enjoyable but strange.

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4.03/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

LOOKS: A rich red in color, with a finger of tan head that lasts and leaves some fair lacing down the glass.
AROMA: a nice balance of toasted malt, mildly dank and citrus hops.
TASTE: Same as aroma. Very balanced between hops and malt.
FEEL: Medium-ish body, dry, well carbonated.
OVERALL: I like the balance in this one, and the fact that it's not killing me with one particular flavor profile. Nice blend. Nice feel.

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3.75/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

The appearance was a hazy amber/red colored body with a one and a half finger white foamy head that dies within a minute, lacing is fairly thick and sporadic but spiderwebs at a good pace; the aroma has an earthy caramel malts coming through in a grainy yet floral sort of way, slight spice underneath; the taste is bittersweet and displays a bit of pine in the flavoring, no aftertaste and no finish; the palate is about a medium, somewhat sessionable but has a certain fill to it, carbonation seems to be pretty smooth and is good for the style and for me overall, hey not bad, so I’ll look for this next fall, good beer.

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