Rob Your Head Imperial Red
The Virginia Beer Company

 

 

 

L: Poured from a tallboy can to a pint glass. Had a dark amber color and a cloudy consistency. There was a half inch of creamy, off white, very long-lasting head. Excellent lacing.

S: A good, but not great aroma of malt, hops, pine, caramel, and citrus fruit.

T: Tasted of a fair amount of hops (more than the average amber), some light citrus fruit (orange, in particular), lots of sweet malt (present throughout), a hint of caramel, and some pine. A pretty good, if uneven, flavor. At times it seems very hoppy, overly malty at others. Still, it has a definite richness to it, with the addition of the pine.

F: A good amount of carbonation with a mostly dry finish. Medium-bodied.

O: A bit of an uneven beer, but still oddly likable. Worth a try.

 

From the bottom of the can: "08/28/2017 PANAMA RED"

Appearance: The beer has a dark burnt umber body with a large creamy textured head. It has good head retention and lacing.

Aroma: The beer has a bit of a pine aroma with a stronger wildflower scent.

Taste: Up front there is some pine and caramel flavor. This moves on to a bit of a biscuit character and a touch of alcohol in the finish. There is a grain flavor in the aftertaste mixed with some orange pith. The more the beer is consumed the more it takes on a floral soap flavor.

Mouthfeel: The beer drinks very clean. It has a medium-light body and a crisp finish. It has a mild bitterness that builds the more the beer is consumed.

Overall: It is a well made beer with good hop and grain character. The flavors seem to fight each other a bit which often makes each sip different in flavor from the last. Although it isn't quite a cohesive beer it is enjoyable enough to drink. I would recommend buying one and trying it in something like a mix-a-six. I probably wouldn't pick it up again but the can I have is still enjoyable.

Poured a copper body with massive head and a lace ring down glass. Classic piney, soapy hop aroma with hints of malts. Dry, bitter, piney citric hop aroma with great hoppiness, then an almost grapefruit but more caramel malt sweetness and bread feel for a fuller beer that has something for everything.

 

 

Poured on tap and from a growler. Translucent but opaque ruby red with a gorgeous frothy white head. Solid retention and significant lacing.

Nose is beautiful bright citrus hop profile with a huge sweet malt base.

Balance here is perfect - big, bright ripe fruity malts with a perfect hop profile full of bitter, dank and slightly juicy hops. This imperial is incredibly crushable - definitely the most dangerous brew I've had from these guys in terms of sneaky abv. Just an amazingly spot on perfect BIG red.

Feel is perfect. Big, full, well rounded. No rough edges - nothing brash or off putting. Light clean finish.

So much depth of flavor - this is world class. I had a Stone Pataskala in between these and there's no competition. I love Stone and they did a great job - this is better. I hope this one is around for a long time. I haven't had a bad beer from these guys - but this one is the best they've put out and it is truly fantastic.