Lagunitas Imperial Red Ale | Lagunitas Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Lagunitas Brewing Company
California, United States
lagunitas.com
Style: American Amber / Red Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.80%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
54.2 IBU
Added by Reidrover on 03-05-2005
This beer is retired; no longer brewed.
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Ratings: 2,296 | Reviews: 777
3.5/5 rDev -14.8%
hophopandaway14, Jul 05, 2012
4.12/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz bottle served in a snifter.
pours a medium amber / copper tone while yielding and finger and a half od frothy off-white head; modest retention and lacing. nose is fairly aromatic, delivering notes of pine, citrus (notably grapefruit), and some tropical characters.
flavor follows well with a strong hoppy citric/pine presence flanked by secondary notes of tropical fruit and some balancing malt. medium bodied mouthfeel with average carbonation.
overall another winner from lagunitas, a brewery that continues to impress with fantastic yet reasonably priced beer and widespread distribution. this one wasn't my favorite from them but very good nonetheless. keep 'em comin'!
681 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz bottle served in a snifter.
pours a medium amber / copper tone while yielding and finger and a half od frothy off-white head; modest retention and lacing. nose is fairly aromatic, delivering notes of pine, citrus (notably grapefruit), and some tropical characters.
flavor follows well with a strong hoppy citric/pine presence flanked by secondary notes of tropical fruit and some balancing malt. medium bodied mouthfeel with average carbonation.
overall another winner from lagunitas, a brewery that continues to impress with fantastic yet reasonably priced beer and widespread distribution. this one wasn't my favorite from them but very good nonetheless. keep 'em comin'!
681 characters
3.7/5 rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A - Nice copper color with a finger of off-white head.
S - Has that classic Lagunitas aroma, incorporating pine and citrus (grapefruit) hop aromas. Sweet caramel malt.
T - Sweet and bitter attempt to balance each other, but the beer ends up too hoppy for a red ale. Needs to show better balance. Grainy, toasted, caramel, sweeter citrus, bitterness, brown bread.
M - Medium in body, a bit lingeringly sticky. Overall it works well for what the beer is trying to be.
O - I don't like it all that much. Unbalanced and just unnecessary. It isn't undrinkable, but I won't buy it again.
585 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A - Nice copper color with a finger of off-white head.
S - Has that classic Lagunitas aroma, incorporating pine and citrus (grapefruit) hop aromas. Sweet caramel malt.
T - Sweet and bitter attempt to balance each other, but the beer ends up too hoppy for a red ale. Needs to show better balance. Grainy, toasted, caramel, sweeter citrus, bitterness, brown bread.
M - Medium in body, a bit lingeringly sticky. Overall it works well for what the beer is trying to be.
O - I don't like it all that much. Unbalanced and just unnecessary. It isn't undrinkable, but I won't buy it again.
585 characters
4/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Reviewed on May 10, 2012. Did not find a date on the bottle.
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to a poco grande flute glass.
A-Red-amber, bubbly 2 finger head that left great lacing. Carbonation just kept streaming up from the bottom.
S-Pineapple, mango, citrus hop smell. Tropical fruits.
T-Tangy, citrus astringent hop bite up front, nice clean malty finish.
M-Nice amount of hops that coat the tongue.
O-Another great beer from Lagunitas! Reminds me a lot of Troegs Nugget Nectar, which is a winner! Would definitely like to have this one around A LOT.
555 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Reviewed on May 10, 2012. Did not find a date on the bottle.
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to a poco grande flute glass.
A-Red-amber, bubbly 2 finger head that left great lacing. Carbonation just kept streaming up from the bottom.
S-Pineapple, mango, citrus hop smell. Tropical fruits.
T-Tangy, citrus astringent hop bite up front, nice clean malty finish.
M-Nice amount of hops that coat the tongue.
O-Another great beer from Lagunitas! Reminds me a lot of Troegs Nugget Nectar, which is a winner! Would definitely like to have this one around A LOT.
555 characters
4.17/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - slightly hazy ruby, one finger of tan head retained at a thin covering with some lacing
S - molasses and candied fruit, herbs and fresh grass, with a mild booziness
T - toffee and molasses malt, light cherry, strong pine and grass hop notes, finishing with a alcohol spice and sweetness
M - medium to big body, creamy and full, finishes sticky and bitter
O - a well done big amber, both big and balanced in flavour, Lagunitas delivers as usual
447 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - slightly hazy ruby, one finger of tan head retained at a thin covering with some lacing
S - molasses and candied fruit, herbs and fresh grass, with a mild booziness
T - toffee and molasses malt, light cherry, strong pine and grass hop notes, finishing with a alcohol spice and sweetness
M - medium to big body, creamy and full, finishes sticky and bitter
O - a well done big amber, both big and balanced in flavour, Lagunitas delivers as usual
447 characters
4/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz Bottle from Potsdam IGA NY for 2.50$
Appearance - Clear copper colour with an above average size fizzy beige coloured head. There is an average amount of carbonation and there is some good lacing. The head lasted for around 5 minutes.
Smell - Malts, caramel, hops, grapefruit, apricots
Taste & Mouth - There is an average amount of carbonation and I can taste hops/resin, malts, and caramel/brown sugar. There is also a some grapefruit, apricot, and pineapple. It ends with a malty lip smacking sugary sweet aftertaste and quite a bit of a hop bitterness.
Overall - Just a notch or 2 behind nugget nectar in my books. I think I've enjoyed every Lagunita's beer I've ever had and this one is no different. Worth picking up for sure. I just wish they made their bottling dates a little easier to find.
808 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz Bottle from Potsdam IGA NY for 2.50$
Appearance - Clear copper colour with an above average size fizzy beige coloured head. There is an average amount of carbonation and there is some good lacing. The head lasted for around 5 minutes.
Smell - Malts, caramel, hops, grapefruit, apricots
Taste & Mouth - There is an average amount of carbonation and I can taste hops/resin, malts, and caramel/brown sugar. There is also a some grapefruit, apricot, and pineapple. It ends with a malty lip smacking sugary sweet aftertaste and quite a bit of a hop bitterness.
Overall - Just a notch or 2 behind nugget nectar in my books. I think I've enjoyed every Lagunita's beer I've ever had and this one is no different. Worth picking up for sure. I just wish they made their bottling dates a little easier to find.
808 characters
Lagunitas Imperial Red Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company
4.11
out of 5
based on 2,296 ratings.