Shed The Red
Mirror Twin Brewing

Coffee and chocolate belong on dark beer, right? Mirror Twin Brewing is testing that notion by putting these best buddy spices on an American red ale base of flavors to lean on the beer's natural toffee and nutty tendencies to add a unique dynamic in taste.

Medium crimson in color, the lightly hazy Shed The Red quickly builds a loose froth to fill the nose with moderate coffee and cocoa aromas. In true form, the pecan and deep caramelization of malt surrounds the spice additions for a sweet and earthy scent. Sweet on the tongue, the caramel, toffee and peanut brittle character sets a savory tone in taste.

As the flavors converge on the middle palate, a slow simmer of sweetness eventually allows the coffee to pull forward while leaving the cocoa slightly behind. Spicy with a firm hop balance, a hint of pine, citrus peel and woodsiness feed into the rising coffee flavor while offsetting the sweetness for a bittersweet balance.

Medium bodied and continuing a coffee trek, the malt sweetness develops a deep cola flavor with the spice of still Dr. Pepper. Coffee grounds and a hint of cocoa extends into a long and spicy aftertaste soon after the malts have expired.