Imperial Red
Breakside Brewery - SE Taproom

 

on tap down at b side on 17th, still killing it with their draft lineup. i kind of through this was the toro red, but seeing the abv align here, it was definitely this one. certainly a red ipa, this is as hoppy as they come, not sure why i expected some sort of amber ale, there is some red malt in here, but its a hop bomb to the max. i like a sturdy one like this, big pine resins in nose and taste, and an ungodly amount of bitterness. hazy brick red color, short lived white head in a ten ounce chalice. its all hops for me, the grain provides body and a little balance, but this is all about the hops. not even a new or interesting strain necessarily, just a disproportionately high dose. i dont usually like a malty ipa, i think the attempt at big balance is usually futile, and the beers a filling and convoluted, but not this one. the red malt is dry, almost irish style (save the yeast), and its a cool platform for these hops, it feels wintery to me, and big. the alcohol does push through just a bit. after really not caring much for their salted caramel stout, breakside got immediately back into my good graces with this red ipa. delicious, but sip slowly, it will creep up on you!