Mississippi Fire Ant
Southern Prohibition Brewing

 

Enjoyed on tap at Hop City Birmingham.

Incredibly balanced, almost to a fault. There are very few world class imperial reds (red IPAs) in the world, and I’ll fight anyone who says Oskar Blues G’Knight — or their modern derivative, Great Nite — isn’t at or close to the top of the list. This one is doing a lot right and getting up there, with a world class look (deep mahogany fluid with wonderful off-white suds), near-barleywine nose, luscious feel, and all the hops and malts you would look for in the category. And the flavor profile hits all the right pithy, bitter, hoppy, citrusy, malty, bready, earthy notes you want. But the nose and tongue are just a hair too balanced and malty would love the hops to poke through a little more.

But still, really damn fine.

Picked this up at Walmart in Jackson, Mississippi on my way back from the left coast not too long ago. Saw that this had a lofty rating on here and although it wasn't bad, this was relatively easy to enjoy given it's low alcoholic presence and nice balance, although the caramel could have been toned down a bit!

Of course, this had a deep mahogany hue to it with plenty of fluffy bread topping it off. The foam lasted long but didn't stick around much on the sides of my glass, as the lacing left a bit to be desired. Tons of Carmel Malt, roasted notes, and earthy hops in the nose as some citrus pith, blood orange, and dark bread came through on the palate. Some herbs and deep pine forest came through in the back once this beer's heft fully shone through. Lots of amber and stickiness to be had here as the carbonation was light and the body quite strong!

There was enough booze in this too, which was good given that this was not a full pint. Canned on 2/8 with "C8 BY DOBBY" written underneath it, this held up well as it almost reminded me of what the Troegs Nugget Nectar has become in recent years. While not as potent as a real fire ant, this had plenty of sting to it and was great to enjoy - one can at a time!

One of my fav Imperial Reds this side of the Mississippi. Glad SoPro brought it back. Such a strong combo of hops and caramel, with a finish knowing it’s gonna kick your ass. Only do one a night with others, cause this one packs a punch as strong as a fire ant bite, hit taste so good!

 

Pours brownish red with small finger size bar pour head great sheet lace from small head.

Aroma is malty with a deep resin pine/herbal bitterness.

Taste is like the nose nice malty backbone good caramel sweetness nice body. At 80 IBU the hops aren't overpowered enough malt to just make them normal. Not overly bitter just good hop profile pine resin and herbal notes. Very tasty and pretty balanced atleast in this hop heads opinion.

Mouthfeel is big medium with smooth carbonation.

Overall I like it hopefully can get more up Tennessee easy. Could see this creeping into my regular amber brew rotation.

 

Not bad on drought

Form the 12 oz can in a snifter via a friend from work---cheers Randy.
This solid little red pours a dark reddish brown with a very nice head of
off white foam that settles to a thick ring, thick clumping layer, and sports
some excellent lacing. Nose of sticky hops and heavy sweet caramel malts
with herbal and pine notes. Flavors excel by presentation with a rich caramel
backbone and heavy pine and rich herbal hops with touches of biscuit and
light breaded malt notes. Nice mouth feel; medium body, medium light
carbonation, and a rich sticky sweet (yet balanced) finish that is lightly
dry.

Overall, a SOLID brew from a new to me brewery.

Cheers

CAN: 12 fl oz pull-tab with red and black label art. Irritatingly, there is no best before or canned-on date listed anywhere. $1.75 USD plus tax per single at a beer store in Metairie, LA.

"Imperial Red Ale." 8% ABV.

APPEARANCE: Frothy off-white head (~5 minute retention). Murky caramel-red body. It ain't much to look at. Doesn't appear filtered.

AROMA: Caramel, toasted malt, bread crust, amber malt, brown sugar, herbal hop aromatics, a hint of chocolate malt, buried gooey malt sweetness. Less hop-emphatic than I expected, barely bringing anything beyond herbal hop notes...is this really 80 IBU?

TASTE: Everything the aroma promises is here, and boy is it well balanced. Gooey amber malt sweetness plays off toasted caramel/bread crust notes beautifully, with herbal hop character lending it a more English ale hop profile. Dried pine needles, a blip of spice, toasty malt...it's very pleasant and approachable despite a faint alcohol warmth.

Not the hoppy red ale I expected...more a toasted malt glass of goodness that only uses herbal hop flavours for balance. Rather interesting stuff, and adequately complex.

TEXTURE: Dry and coarse, accentuating the toasty and herbal flavours nicely. Medium to full-bodied. Unrefreshing. Has a hint of alcohol warmth throughout. Very approachable, if a bit filling.

OVERALL: It's no Nugget Nectar, but its more English ale-inspired approach to the imperial red style is more than welcome, a nice departure from the overhopped red ales you usually see crowding the category (on the off-chance a brewery is even willing to try brewing one). I'd nab a sixer of it each Winter, but it's too filling and malty to be a go-to year round. Solid work from SoPro.

B- (3.40) / WORTHY

 

Bought this beer on a road. I was pleasantly suprised!

 

 

 

 

L- Interesting looking beer... Nice white half to quarter inch finger head, muddy mahogany brown beer wise. with some red in there. Low carbonation.
S- Brown sugar, malt, bitter hop, licorice, and some piney notes create an overall powerful and aromatic smell.
T- Bitter hop up front, and though not bad, a caramelized malty flavor is a bit over whelming as well. Dark and stone fruits are defiantly in there. I get some raisin and apricot for sure. A good yet almost too overwhelmingly sweet flavor that fits well enough to make the beer enjoyable.
F- Definitely a sticky full bodied mouth feel. Heavy and well pronounced in my opinion. Thick.
O- I enjoyed this beer. It isn't the best beer I've had from Southern Prohibition but it definitely is good. Not overly heavy, but an absolute sipper in my opinion. Southern Prohibition puts Mississippi on the map for quality stuff for sure, but this beer isn't their greatest. With that said, I know for a fact if you enjoy anything imperial you will find something good about this beer.