Big Red Rocket
Rustic Leaf Brewing Company

 

16 ounce crowler into tulip glass, filled on 4/28/2019. Pours fairly crystal clear ruby red, light orange/copper color with a 1-2 finger dense and rocky light khaki head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a large cap that lasts. Thick foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big tangerine, red grapefruit, lemon, peach, pineapple, apricot, mango, melon, citrus peel/rind, wood, peppercorn, pine, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, nuts, toasted biscuit, brown bread dough/crust, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/earthy hops and dark/bready malt notes; with big strength. Taste of huge tangerine, red grapefruit, lemon, peach, pineapple, apricot, mango, melon, citrus peel/rind, wood, peppercorn, pine, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, nuts, toasted biscuit, brown bread dough/crust, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, woody, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of tangerine, red grapefruit, lemon, peach, pineapple, apricot, mango, melon, citrus peel/rind, wood, peppercorn, pine, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, nuts, toasted biscuit, brown bread dough/crust, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/earthy hops and dark/bready malt flavors; with an awesome malt/bitterness balance, and no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and medium-full body; with a very smooth, creamy/silky/bready, and fairly sticky/resinous/rindy mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 8.1%. Overall this is a fantastic imperial red ale! All around fantastic complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/earthy hops and dark/bready malt flavors; very smooth and dangerously easy to drink for the big ABV, with the modestly bitter/resinous/drying finish; not overly aggressive. Fantastic Cascade showcase. Extremely juicy and fairly dank/earthy hops; with a perfectly balanced rich dark/Munich malt backbone. Light residual sweetness with lingering resin dryness. A highly enjoyable offering, and amazing style example.