Climax Noel - Imperial Red Ale
Eel River Brewing Co.
- From:
- Eel River Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Imperial Red Ale
- ABV:
- 9.2%
- Score:
- 83
- Avg:
- 3.66 | pDev: 10.66%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 40
- Status:
- Inactive
- Rated:
- May 07, 2020
- Added:
- Nov 22, 2008
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 2
SCORE
83
Good
83
Good
This robust Imperial Red Ale is a hop showcase. The first sip reveals hints of toffee and caramel flavor notes, accentuated with dry hopped organic Centennial, Chinook, Simcoe and Citra hops.
Named after the Climax Engine, a steam locomotive used to haul logs out of the forest, this beer was made for the winter season. With a 9.2% ABV and 62 IBUs, you can count on a nice, warm, drinking experience.
Named after the Climax Engine, a steam locomotive used to haul logs out of the forest, this beer was made for the winter season. With a 9.2% ABV and 62 IBUs, you can count on a nice, warm, drinking experience.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
3.28/5 rDev -10.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.28/5 rDev -10.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
This red really glows, drops a substantial 1" off white head, a little under average retention though. Aroma brought more dark fruit vibe than red malt. Does that mean its complex?
Taste was a little sweeter, minimal hop usage, like a hybrid of a dubbel, bdsa and red ale. Even brings some holiday spice rack to a small degree. Caramel of course.
Apr 29, 2016Taste was a little sweeter, minimal hop usage, like a hybrid of a dubbel, bdsa and red ale. Even brings some holiday spice rack to a small degree. Caramel of course.
Reviewed by Fatehunter from Oregon
3.74/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.74/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours two fingers of head on a cloudy light brown colored body.
The aroma is a pleasant barnyard, grain and lemon mixture.
The taste is a sharp malty sweetness, a hit of lemon bitterness, caramel and pine.
The texture is thicker with moderate carbonation.
A bold red ale.
Feb 09, 2014The aroma is a pleasant barnyard, grain and lemon mixture.
The taste is a sharp malty sweetness, a hit of lemon bitterness, caramel and pine.
The texture is thicker with moderate carbonation.
A bold red ale.
Reviewed by mactrail from Washington
3.93/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Beautiful, unbelievable cherry red color in the tumbler. It's like a drink in a fancy cocktail bar plus the beautiful tall head. A pleasant sudsy mouthful. Expansive aroma of piney hops.
Malty and wheaty, in the cereal sense. Warm with malt and hot with alcohol. It's like having a shot with your IPA. Lots of hops but not overly bitter, but spicy with all the hop aromatics. Sharp and tangy with a thin body. It's really like a mixed drink dosed up with bitters.
The best I've had from Eel River. From the 22 oz bottle bought at La Bodega Wines & Spirits in Riverside.
Jan 08, 2014Malty and wheaty, in the cereal sense. Warm with malt and hot with alcohol. It's like having a shot with your IPA. Lots of hops but not overly bitter, but spicy with all the hop aromatics. Sharp and tangy with a thin body. It's really like a mixed drink dosed up with bitters.
The best I've had from Eel River. From the 22 oz bottle bought at La Bodega Wines & Spirits in Riverside.
Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California
3.58/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.58/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
2013 vintage.
Pours a hazy orange-red with a foamy beige head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy swaths of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, citrus fruit, citrus zest, and alcohol aromas. Taste is much the same with citrus fruit, candied citrus zest, and slight herbal hop flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with lots of citrus forward qualities in the aroma and flavor.
Dec 26, 2013Pours a hazy orange-red with a foamy beige head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy swaths of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, citrus fruit, citrus zest, and alcohol aromas. Taste is much the same with citrus fruit, candied citrus zest, and slight herbal hop flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with lots of citrus forward qualities in the aroma and flavor.
Reviewed by Beerswag from California
3.86/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.86/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
2013 bottle updated tan and blue logo poured into 25cl tulip
Appearance is dark mahogany/dark brown woth a yellowish-tan 1" frothy head which is gone in 1 minute. Lacing is nice and sticky. Smell is a definate hop bitter front backed by juicy fruit, pine, brown sugar, grapefruit, apricot. A very juicy winter
Beer.. Taste is a nice bitter hop front with nice malt back bone, not too much spice here. Mango fruit and tropical undertones throughout.A hoppy/piney/sweet imperial red with complexity. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied, with a medium carbonation, and sticky resin feel to the mouth. Would be appreciated by hop heads,'as a christmas ale. should be drank fresh I believe. Pair with a aged yellow chedder/ beemster, cashew/brazil/chesnuts, black truffels, beef bone-marrow.
Dec 13, 2013Appearance is dark mahogany/dark brown woth a yellowish-tan 1" frothy head which is gone in 1 minute. Lacing is nice and sticky. Smell is a definate hop bitter front backed by juicy fruit, pine, brown sugar, grapefruit, apricot. A very juicy winter
Beer.. Taste is a nice bitter hop front with nice malt back bone, not too much spice here. Mango fruit and tropical undertones throughout.A hoppy/piney/sweet imperial red with complexity. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied, with a medium carbonation, and sticky resin feel to the mouth. Would be appreciated by hop heads,'as a christmas ale. should be drank fresh I believe. Pair with a aged yellow chedder/ beemster, cashew/brazil/chesnuts, black truffels, beef bone-marrow.
Reviewed by LiquidAmber from Washington
3.65/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.65/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Review from 10/2010 notes. Poured into a Nostradamus flute glass. Pours a lovely clear red amber with a small white head and lacing. Hoppy aroma with light malt. Medium bodied with a nice malty, light citrus, hoppy red ale start, but the finish is overly bitter, a bit boozy and not supported by the other flavors. The bitterness stays starkly on the palette. I liked the looks of this and it seems well made, I'm disappointed it's a miss.
Jul 15, 2012
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