Red Giant
Element Brewing Company

This is the best bottle conditioned beer ever! Rich red color, laced all the way. Earthy aroma, possibly EKG? bitterness balanced carmel malt notes. Very hazy, yeast did not settle but it is conditioned in the bottle after all. I have not seen this beer on tap, I think you can only get in in the 750ml bottles?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Btl 5/14/15

 

April 2013 bottle served in a tulip glass. 750ml bottle

Appearance: fantastic packaging on this one. Not too many paper wrapped bottle out there now days. The bottle has nothing on it at all and is secured with a cork and cage. The cork has a significant amount of pop to it when opened. The beer poured a bright mahogany brown with a little carbonation and a small tan head that disappeared quickly. No sediment in the glass.

Nose: port wine, sherry, raisins, plenty of oxidation, dark fruits, very complex

Taste: follows the nose: low carbonation, moderate sweetness, port, sherry, nice level of oxidation, no hop character at all, cherries, raisins, plums and other dark fruits, no alcohol at all.

Overall: this was a very nice surprise. I bought this bottle on clearance for $7 and had very low expectations. Turns out Element didn't make an American Red Ale but they made a killer Old Ale that can be cellared for over 2 years and still be delicious. This is one of the best cellared beers I've ever had and I will be seeking this out in the future. It is one of my go-to cellar staples.

 

I had this on tap at a barbecue joint (Wildwood, Rt. 9, Hadley, MA). The color was very dark. I wasn't seeing a lot of red. The nose was very rich and malty. Likewise, the flavor was rich with maltiness, but without being too heavy. The maltiness was nicely countered with hops for a smooth finish. At eight percent it is still very drinkable and works very nicely with the bbq.

 

 

 

 

Dry and hoppy and a lovely color. Robust flavor and a clean finish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

From 10/12/14 notes. On tap at The Jeffrey in NYC.

Reddish brown color, lots of caramel and bready malts. Not bad but not a ton going. very malty, not as hoppy as advertised. Medium body and low carbonation.

 

10/02/13 On tap at Rattle n Hum, NYC. Malts, a sweet espresso & a hint of smoke are the greeting. Medium body & a nice lingering aftertaste, but with an 8% ABV this will be a one & done....for now.

This does not strike me as an American Amber or Red Ale. There is a sour tartness on the nose along with cherry and other fruits over rich malt that do not belong to the style.
The beer pours a deep garnet brown under a moussey 2" persistent tan tinted foam cap.
The attack on the palate starts with big malt, tart, fruit, cherry then a big bitter hop presence to bring it on home. Lingering bitter fruit flavors. Good balance between the tart flavors, the malty sweetness, the bitter hops and the alcohol.
The very creamy body and very fine soft carbonation suggest a touch of wild yeast. It is medium bodied and very smooth. If this is indeed an American Amber Ale then I lucked out and got an infected bottle.

Poured a dark tea color in a Pretty things Balloon Glass with a 2F head.
I switched to a snifter which enhances the aroma, taste and finish.

At a colder temp, the beer's aroma and taste are more akin to a sour. Very bitter, sour cherry-like flavor.

This beer is best served at 60F- or cellar temp as recommended by the brewer. The taste mellows out at warmer temps: caramel, hoppy bitterness, and similar aroma/taste to a sour, but not quite as pronounced.

Style? This isn't a "red ale," , like a Lagunitas Imperial Red, or a Troegs Nuggett Nectar. It is a combo of different styles- which doesn't matter. The beer is distinctive and well crafted.

Another unusual standout beer from Element.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The beer pours a tan but slightly reddish and creamy head that dissipates quickly. The beer itself is a very dark ruby that is almost fully purple. The beer smell has a strong caramel malt sweetness that mixes well with the hop bitterness but neither note dominates the other. The smell also has some notes of oak and a tiny hint of vanilla. The beer taste is similar to the smell in regards to notes but differ in strength. The hop bitterness is much stronger than the malt sweetness and the sweetness appears to actually dull the hoppiness. The slight oak and vanilla are still there as hidden notes but come out stronger in the aftertaste. The mouthfeel of the beer is smooth and slick with biting carbonation. Overall ,a pretty good beer and worth getting.