Hop Head Red
Belmont Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats:
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- Style:
- Red Ale - American Amber / Red
Ranked #431 - ABV:
- not listed
- Score:
- 83
Ranked #36,228 - Avg:
- 3.69 | pDev: 10.84%
- Reviews:
- 8
- Ratings:
- From:
- Belmont Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Avail:
- Rotating/Seasonal
- Wants
- 0
- Gots
- 3
SCORE
83
Good
83
Good
Notes:
Reviews: 8
| Ratings: 37
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Reviews by TheLongBeachBum:
TheLongBeachBum from California
3.98/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Presentation: Sampled at Belmont Brewing Company, Long Beach during a recent regular Thursday get together with the LongBeachHopHeads. Shared a Pitcher of the Hop Head Red with fellow BA Scott & Jess. Listed only the blackboard as Hop Head Red, this is a seasonal offering that makes an appearance as Beer of the Month once or twice a year I believe.
Appearance: Dark ruddy red brown body with a light cloudiness to it. Light tan colored head has excellent retention and a creamy texture with a gentle undulating surface that leaves a very nice looking lacing. Fresh conditioning and a bold confident look.
Nose: Sweet malts and a punchy hop character. The hops come through more in the back end at first. Once the beer settles and warms up the Humulus takes over the nose completely. Not that strong to be honest, but highly skewed towards the hops nonetheless.
Taste: Pretty much a running parallel reflection of the nose. The finish is clean and thankfully the usual annoying cloyingness that so many Reds have is not there, in this case it has been replaced with a rather cool hoppy twang that balances the sweet malts in the beginning, contributes moreso in the middle and basically takes over the finish. The hoppy ending has a little spice and is very attractive.
Mouthfeel: Freshly tapped it was no surprise that the conditioning was finely dissolved and provided massive support to the tastes. Soft but virulent it added to the sweet malts and spicy hops.
Drinkability: Probably the best part of the make-up. I found this to be a very drinkable offering. The Hops are the main player but the sweet malts and Red character is there. A very West Coast take on a style that has been done to death in many BrewPubs. This is a nice twist on a style that is definitely not one of my favorites.
Overall: I think that this one would go well with spicy food. Very enjoyable, and a good session offering. A Recommended Beer of the Month, during Happy Hour its a steal at $2 a Glass.
Mar 04, 2006
3.98/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Presentation: Sampled at Belmont Brewing Company, Long Beach during a recent regular Thursday get together with the LongBeachHopHeads. Shared a Pitcher of the Hop Head Red with fellow BA Scott & Jess. Listed only the blackboard as Hop Head Red, this is a seasonal offering that makes an appearance as Beer of the Month once or twice a year I believe.
Appearance: Dark ruddy red brown body with a light cloudiness to it. Light tan colored head has excellent retention and a creamy texture with a gentle undulating surface that leaves a very nice looking lacing. Fresh conditioning and a bold confident look.
Nose: Sweet malts and a punchy hop character. The hops come through more in the back end at first. Once the beer settles and warms up the Humulus takes over the nose completely. Not that strong to be honest, but highly skewed towards the hops nonetheless.
Taste: Pretty much a running parallel reflection of the nose. The finish is clean and thankfully the usual annoying cloyingness that so many Reds have is not there, in this case it has been replaced with a rather cool hoppy twang that balances the sweet malts in the beginning, contributes moreso in the middle and basically takes over the finish. The hoppy ending has a little spice and is very attractive.
Mouthfeel: Freshly tapped it was no surprise that the conditioning was finely dissolved and provided massive support to the tastes. Soft but virulent it added to the sweet malts and spicy hops.
Drinkability: Probably the best part of the make-up. I found this to be a very drinkable offering. The Hops are the main player but the sweet malts and Red character is there. A very West Coast take on a style that has been done to death in many BrewPubs. This is a nice twist on a style that is definitely not one of my favorites.
Overall: I think that this one would go well with spicy food. Very enjoyable, and a good session offering. A Recommended Beer of the Month, during Happy Hour its a steal at $2 a Glass.
Mar 04, 2006
More User Reviews:
Richard-Scott from Georgia
3.87/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Oct 01, 2015
3.87/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Oct 01, 2015
rowew from Colorado
4.1/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Ale of the month at the BBC. This beer poured a cloudy red color with a nice head. As it drained the head left a very nice lace. Aroma was very appealing - mainly hops but with enough sweet malty smell to draw me in. Very drinkable - much hoppier than most reds. Medium body. A nice session beer!
May 14, 2005
4.1/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Ale of the month at the BBC. This beer poured a cloudy red color with a nice head. As it drained the head left a very nice lace. Aroma was very appealing - mainly hops but with enough sweet malty smell to draw me in. Very drinkable - much hoppier than most reds. Medium body. A nice session beer!
May 14, 2005
SacoDeToro from California
3.95/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On tap at BBC.
Poured a rich amber color with a nice off-white head that lasted most of the glass.
The aroma of the beer was reasonably hoppy with citrus and resin notes. Some caramel and burnt toffee malt characters could be smelled as well.
The flavor of the beer was crisply hoppy with a noticable mineral tang, much like Burton-On-Trent bitters. The malt profile had notes of caramel and toffee mixed in.
The mouthfeel of the beer was pretty good, but a tad on the thin side. I would have liked a more dextrinous mouthfeel. The carbonation seemed just a touch high, which added a little airiness to the beer.
Overall a solid amber/red ale from a local brewpub.
Feb 09, 2007
3.95/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On tap at BBC.
Poured a rich amber color with a nice off-white head that lasted most of the glass.
The aroma of the beer was reasonably hoppy with citrus and resin notes. Some caramel and burnt toffee malt characters could be smelled as well.
The flavor of the beer was crisply hoppy with a noticable mineral tang, much like Burton-On-Trent bitters. The malt profile had notes of caramel and toffee mixed in.
The mouthfeel of the beer was pretty good, but a tad on the thin side. I would have liked a more dextrinous mouthfeel. The carbonation seemed just a touch high, which added a little airiness to the beer.
Overall a solid amber/red ale from a local brewpub.
Feb 09, 2007
pdrizzle from California
3.73/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I really only like reds if they are on the hoppy side, and this one brings some great flavors to the table. I was pretty impressed after two pitchers shared among three friends; to my two companions who are BBC locals (we only got charged for one pint!) this was the only choice for their afternoon brews. As much of my drinking is done in Santa Cruz and other NorCal watering holes, I couldn't help but think that the Lagunitas Imperial Red is just a bit better than the Hop Head Red, but its always nice to taste some quality brew from by home town of Long Beach.
Cheers to the BBC for another great fade.
Oct 16, 2006
3.73/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I really only like reds if they are on the hoppy side, and this one brings some great flavors to the table. I was pretty impressed after two pitchers shared among three friends; to my two companions who are BBC locals (we only got charged for one pint!) this was the only choice for their afternoon brews. As much of my drinking is done in Santa Cruz and other NorCal watering holes, I couldn't help but think that the Lagunitas Imperial Red is just a bit better than the Hop Head Red, but its always nice to taste some quality brew from by home town of Long Beach.
Cheers to the BBC for another great fade.
Oct 16, 2006
rgrace99 from California
4.05/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Returned to Belmont Brewing Company while on a bike ride with the wife, Hadn't stopped in for a while and I was never totally impressed by their beers but they used to have a great happy hour with dollar beers and two dollar tacos. Sorry to see that the happy hour was no longer but had a pint of the hop head red which was the beer of the month. Served in a standard pint glass from tap, strong hoppy aroma with a good malt background. Strong hop flavor without being overwhelming, very quaffable. Too bad this isn't one of their regulars but it makes be want to return to retry their beers and see what else they have for beer of the month.
Jul 06, 2006
4.05/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Returned to Belmont Brewing Company while on a bike ride with the wife, Hadn't stopped in for a while and I was never totally impressed by their beers but they used to have a great happy hour with dollar beers and two dollar tacos. Sorry to see that the happy hour was no longer but had a pint of the hop head red which was the beer of the month. Served in a standard pint glass from tap, strong hoppy aroma with a good malt background. Strong hop flavor without being overwhelming, very quaffable. Too bad this isn't one of their regulars but it makes be want to return to retry their beers and see what else they have for beer of the month.
Jul 06, 2006
BretSikkink from Mexico
3.88/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Deep brown-red at the top, a little hazy, with orange lights along the bottom. Barely tanned head is about an inch thick initially, some soapiness but pretty tight. Retention is okay, keeps a nice dusting of foam on top, and the lacing is pretty sticky.
Bright citric hops with a caramel backing. Run of the mill for craft beer at large, but notable for style given its hops bent. Not much power.
Again, hop-forward character on the palate, lots of citrics, even leaning toward the bitterness of grapefruit. Plenty of caramel malts to keep things honest, but nothing that shows up after the swallow. The finish is clean, pleasantly bitter, and pretty long.
Soft, fairly creamy texture. Pretty good size and smoothness. As mentioned, the hops are the major player here but it's certainly not too bitter by any stretch. Nice take on a boring style. I liked this one quite a bit but not nearly as much as Lucky 13 or Red Rocket.
Sep 15, 2008
3.88/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Deep brown-red at the top, a little hazy, with orange lights along the bottom. Barely tanned head is about an inch thick initially, some soapiness but pretty tight. Retention is okay, keeps a nice dusting of foam on top, and the lacing is pretty sticky.
Bright citric hops with a caramel backing. Run of the mill for craft beer at large, but notable for style given its hops bent. Not much power.
Again, hop-forward character on the palate, lots of citrics, even leaning toward the bitterness of grapefruit. Plenty of caramel malts to keep things honest, but nothing that shows up after the swallow. The finish is clean, pleasantly bitter, and pretty long.
Soft, fairly creamy texture. Pretty good size and smoothness. As mentioned, the hops are the major player here but it's certainly not too bitter by any stretch. Nice take on a boring style. I liked this one quite a bit but not nearly as much as Lucky 13 or Red Rocket.
Sep 15, 2008
charlzm from California
3.52/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On draft at brewery, consumed on 11/12/07.
Not as dark as their amber ale, this beer is a little on the orange/copper side. A resiny hop character greets the nose. Very well-balanced malt/hops flavor, neither overpowering nor overwhelmed. Slightly astringent aftertaste where hops linger on the palate. Not as hoppy as the name would leave you to believe, though hoppier than most red ales I have had.
Mar 01, 2008
3.52/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On draft at brewery, consumed on 11/12/07.
Not as dark as their amber ale, this beer is a little on the orange/copper side. A resiny hop character greets the nose. Very well-balanced malt/hops flavor, neither overpowering nor overwhelmed. Slightly astringent aftertaste where hops linger on the palate. Not as hoppy as the name would leave you to believe, though hoppier than most red ales I have had.
Mar 01, 2008
WoodBrew from Ohio
3.93/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Trying the hopped up Red at the brewery. It poured a clear amber with thin white head that is not leaving much of a lace. The scent has hints of pine and sweet malt. The taste is nicely balanced and easy to drink. There is caramel sweetness balanced with bitter citrus peel. The Mouthfeel is medium in body with good carbonation. Overall this is a nice beer.
Sep 13, 2016
3.93/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Trying the hopped up Red at the brewery. It poured a clear amber with thin white head that is not leaving much of a lace. The scent has hints of pine and sweet malt. The taste is nicely balanced and easy to drink. There is caramel sweetness balanced with bitter citrus peel. The Mouthfeel is medium in body with good carbonation. Overall this is a nice beer.
Sep 13, 2016
Hop Head Red from Belmont Brewing Company
Beer rating:
83 out of
100 with
37 ratings
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