Imperial Red Ale
Carakale Brewing Co.

 

This is the second beer that I've had from this brewery. From a tall brown bottle, the liquid is a deep, brownish-red color with a slim off-white head. The aroma is intensely malty...a little fruit and lots of pale malted barley, along with slight caramel and toffee notes. Very boozy and flavorful taste. Medium sweetness, very malty, and a bit of fruit. I'm not sure that I get dates specifically, but there is certainly an unplceable dark fruit. Flavorful and worthwhile.

 

 

 

A: The beer is quite hazy dark reddish brown in color. It poured with a quarter finger high light tan head that left some lacing on the surface and a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of dark fruits and dates are present in the nose along with notes of caramel.
T: The taste follows the smell and has moderately strong flavors of dates and other dark fruits with notes of malty sweetness and hints of caramel. Little if any bitterness is perceptible.
M: It feels a touch more than medium-bodied on the palate and has a low to moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This is a tough beer to classify into a particular style as it shares qualities of an American Red Ale, and Irish Red Ale, and even a Scottish Ale. In any event, it isn't overly difficult to drink with all of its fruity and malty flavors and does a very good job at masking the alcohol from the taste.

Serving type: bottle

 

Unusual red ale. Purchased in Sante Fe, NM during a recent visit.

Poured from a bottle into a tulip glass. Dark reddish brown with short lived head and okay lacing. Great date smell and taste. A bit boozy with a pleasant sweet finish. Glad I had the chance to try it.

Pours a clear brown color. 1/2 inch head of an off-tan color. Slight retention and poor lacing. Smells of alcohol, strong sweet malt, and esters. Fits the style of an American Imperial Red Ale. Mouth feel is sharp and clean, with an average carbonation level. There is a slight alcohol burn. Tastes of alcohol, strong sweet malt, hint of wheat, citrus hop, and esters. Overall, weak appearance, simple, blend is all over, and alcohol burn is unpleasant.

Thanks to Sarah H for this one. 8-ish oz bottle poured into 14oz tulip. Poured a lightly cloudy red color with just a thin cap of off-white head that quickly dissipated into a ring, which held for a while.

The aroma had a nice malt scent, lightly sweet, and a noticeable hop presence.

On the tongue, the profile started out pretty similar, but the hops had a bolder presence, with just a nice bit of bite on the finish.

The body was smooth and even, with a semi-dry finish.

Drinkability was nice, I could have easily put back a pint of it, even at almost 10% ABV. Overall, a very nice brew, try it if you ever get the chance.