21 Guns Imperial Red Ale
Gun Hill Brewing Company

Is there such a thing as an Imperial Irish red? Hell if I know, but given the ABV on this beast, I poured this into a tulip. The appearance was a rich burnt dark copper almost red color with a finger’s worth of semi-tan foamy head that glistened and slid off at a decent pace. Slim white ringy lace. The aroma was loaded with some dark toast not burnt, toffee, cocoa powder and some earthiness strapping down some citrusy crisp bittersweet hops. Light tropical fruits on the back end. Light resin. The flavor was malty dry sweet with the hop discipline skating upon the outskirts of these previously mentioned malt tones and to try and combine. Did it? Somewhat. Aftertaste faced the full effects of all of those aromas and seemed to meld into the finish. The palate was about medium bodied shaving off the sweetness by pummeling my tongue a bit more than expected with the hop harshness. A bit more than expected. Carbonation felt good. Overall, this would be a prime example of an American Strong ale with the hops abrasiveness coming across as it did.