Loose Caboose
Roanoke Railhouse Brewery

Loose CabooseLoose Caboose
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From:
Roanoke Railhouse Brewery
 
Virginia, United States
Style:
Imperial Pilsner
ABV:
7.8%
Score:
80
Avg:
3.41 | pDev: 11.73%
Reviews:
14
Ratings:
27
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 24, 2014
Added:
Feb 28, 2011
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  2
This Imperial Lager has a beautiful copper-gold color with a creamy lasting head that leaves an impressive lacing effect in the glass.

A strong lager (starkbier is the nomenclature used in Germany) in all senses of the word. The beer is balanced with a hoppy start and finish and a malt backbone so as not to be overly dry.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by SiriusBock:
Photo of SiriusBock
Reviewed by SiriusBock from Virginia

3.83/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
I was fortunate enough to try this brew on tap, straight from the source.

A: Rich, copper color. About a two finger head that lasted a good deal in.

S: Pretty fair balance of malt and hops, more so on the grains. Smelled sweet.

T: Didn't realize it was at 7.8% until told. The alcohol was smoothly hidden within the depths of the slightly sweet lager. Went down smooth...too smooth...enough to not realize it until beyond the point! Caramel tones, with a hoppy finish

M: Didn't really coat the mouth, but didn't fade too soon. Right down the middle
Jul 02, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by AWB3 from Virginia

Apr 24, 2014
 
Rated: 2.75 by VeganUndead from Virginia

Mar 31, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by bmjivi221 from Virginia

Jul 21, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by rdobens from Tennessee

Mar 08, 2013
Photo of Bierman9
Reviewed by Bierman9 from New Hampshire

3.58/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Have put up the Christmas tree, and now it's time for some bier and football... From a 22oz bomber, a brthday gift from Artied2...

Into an imperial pint.... it has a smidge of haziness present which helps hide some of the steady carbo streaming upwards. Color is a deep golden, perhaps looking more like apricot jam. Head is minutely dine and thin, off-white, and most clings to the edges. Not much lacing left behind, though... Aroma is a bit fruity, bringing to mind some more apricot and a little tangerine. It feels fairly smooth on the tongue, and the body is a passable medium.

Flavor has a touch of malty sweetness, being a bit toasty and biscuity. There is a touch of caramel here, too, but it seems like it was burnt a bit in a pan. A little fruitiness and honey is also present, and there seems to be a dryish, herbal quality to it. Trying hard to see how this is an imperial pilsener, but whatever... Not bad, overall... Thnx Bro!! Prosit!

3.58/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

1548
Dec 09, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by SlaughteredWolf from Virginia

Aug 23, 2012
 
Rated: 2.5 by otzhorse2 from Kentucky

Jun 18, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by lccrunchy from Pennsylvania

May 03, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by MikeW51

Mar 17, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by BigTrubble from North Carolina

Mar 17, 2012
Photo of beergod1
Reviewed by beergod1 from Ohio

3.43/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to my boss for bringing me back this Imperial Lager to Ohio. Poured a hazy light orange, nice but small creamy head. Aroma is faint, hint of honey accented malt. Flavor is oddly sweet up front, more honey notes, A little hop bitterness on the finish. As it warms it seems to get a little more sticky, and have a slight alcohol burn. Some tropical fruit taste. This is OK....I wouldn't go out of my way to buy this, but it's decent.
Jan 12, 2012
Photo of TechTriumph
Reviewed by TechTriumph from Virginia

3.73/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
No freshness date; Poured in a Sam Adams Perfect Pint glass.

A - One inch off-white creamy head; Clear and copper colored with visible carbonation; Scattered patches of lacing

S - Sweet lager smell with faint hints of cloves and lemon peel; A bit of pine and spice from the hops are detected as well

T - The taste is pretty sweet as well; Flavors of cloves, lemon peel, syrupy sweet malts, and just a touch of alcohol; The primary hop used in this beer is the Perle variety, which after looking up, is known for its slightly spicy and light mint qualities - both of which can be found in the taste here

M - Low carbonation; Medium bodied; A little syrupy in the mouthfeel; Just a bit dry and minty-like in the finish as well

O - Overall, I enjoyed having this beer again. The amount of sweetness may have been a bit much for me, but I thought there was a nice, light presence of spicy, minty, piney hops to bring some balance. I'm not one to drink lagers too often, but this one is a solid choice for those seeking a sweeter, bolder option.
Jan 07, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by bluetrevian from Florida

Dec 07, 2011
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.5/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Catch up rating form notes, 2012: Bottle from my brother-in-law while visiting Roanoke. Light hazy orange pour, small creamy head. Nice rich, deep malty aroma, slightly sweet. More big deep malty notes in the taste, mild hops at the back. Thick and slick. A nice strong lager.
Nov 21, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by IamC0lin from Kentucky

Nov 17, 2011
Photo of WoodBrew
Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio

2.71/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Second beer I tried from Railhouse Brewery was the Loose Caboose. It poured a copper/amber clear with thin white head tha laced slightly. The smell includes some perle hops and slight grain. The taste...at least at first was dominated by alcohol. After your pallate adjusts to the alcohol, you can begin to taste some floral notes and malt. The mouthfeel is medium body with light carbonation. Overall the beer is ok....the alcohol isnt balanced as well as other Imperial Pilsners.
Nov 15, 2011
Photo of Rhettroactive
Reviewed by Rhettroactive from Virginia

3.83/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
From 22oz bomber to nonic pint glass on 8/23/11
*From notes

-- I picked up this bottle at Wine Gourmet in Roanoke, VA when visiting my sister in the middle of July --

A: Clean and filtered amber. A good pour yields a one finger head and minor lacing.

S: Some sweet alcohol and an ample amount of crisp, earthy malt.

T: Big time alcohol, which transitions into a rather creamy and robust burnished malt. Some layered sweetness runs through this beer's veins. Hints of toasted water cracker on the finish.

M: Pretty rich and creamy. It could use a touch more oomph considering the "Imperial" designation, but I'm certainly not complaining.

O: Roanoke Railhouse's Loos Caboose is fine example of a style that no one really asked for. Along with their Track One, Roanoke Railhouse had proven their ability to produce solid lagers. I'm excited to see what they do with an ale.
Aug 30, 2011
Loose Caboose from Roanoke Railhouse Brewery
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 27 ratings