Imperial Red Ale
Surf Brewery

 

Served on tap in a pint glass

Appearance- The beer is served a copper red color with a one finger of cream colored foam head. The head has a good level of retention, slowly fading to leave some bits of foamy lace on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The aroma of the beer is heaviest of a toasted malt smell mixed with some notes of darker fruits of cherry and raisin both there. There are notes of hop of a pine nature as well as some grapefruit which mingle with the malt. A decent showing of a caramel and toffee sweetness are there as well producing a sweet and malty smell overall.

Taste – The taste begins big and malty, being a mix of toasted malt and a smooth bready flavors. Along with the malt heavy flavor are lots of sweeter flavors. The sweet is a mix of caramel and darker fruits of cherry and raisin with the former being the strongest on the tongue. As the taste advances some toffee flavors come to the tongue as well some hop flavors. The hops start out lighter, being of a pine nature mostly, but gain intensity as the taste advances to the end as the pine increases and is joined by grapefruit and a lighter grassy hop taste. With all the flavor transitions that have occurred throughout the taste, one is left with a sweet, malty, and lightly hopped flavor to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the thicker and creamier side with a carbonation level that is on the lower side. Both are quite nice for the rich malty and sweet flavors of the brew, all while managing to still highlight the nice hop flavors.

Overall – A rather thick and tasty red ale that has a big bready and sweet base with just enough hop to balance it out and make it enjoyable.