The Butcher Red IPA
Co-Conspirators Brewing Company

 

I liked CoConspirators The Matriarch New England IPA so much I decided to change up my reviewing order and go straight on in to reviewing CoConspirators The Butcher Red IPA instead. So here’s the thing right, I’m a bit of a connoisseur of Red IPAs (my favourite being Modus’s own The Former Tenant… oh yeah, KAIJU! Hopped Out Red is pretty bitchen too) and looking at the 6% ABV on this can of The Butcher I’m not expecting much (a good Red IPA is generally north of 6% – you need to be big and punchy with this style), but as always I am more than happy to be surprised [IIRC Hopped Out Red was pretty hefty for its 6.5% ABV]. Also Matriarch was G-to-the-capital-O-O-D, so The Butcher should be too.

Poured from a 355ml can into a nonic pint.

A: Hazed caramel-coloured body with a nice big 1 inch tan head on top [these CoConspirators don’t do anything by half measures do they?]. Really dense lace is left inside the glass, impressive proteins again CoCo [I’m nicknaming this brewer fo’ sure now]. 8/10.

S: Roasted malts upfront, earthy/piney/passion-fruit and lightly citrus hops in the middle, and a touch more of caramel malt to round it out – standard Red IPA aroma, but crucially missing a bit of kick – this needs more of that sweet sweet BIG aroma hit. Still I’ve certainly encountered blander Red IPAs in my travels, this is a decent enough sort so far. 7/10.

T: All of the above: roasted malts, earthy/piney/passion-fruit/citrus hops, caramel malt, with a slight funky sour twang [that I can’t quite put my finger on – “hmmm, needs more dogs”] towards the finish, and a lingering herbal bitterness in the aftertaste. As suspected the flavour needs a bit more of everything and a higher ABV, though it is again a well crafted beer from CoCo, it just needs that extra oomph to stand up to similar brews by Modus, KAIJU! and Prancing Pony. 7/10.

M: Mid to light bodied, almost medium but not quite, with a pretty dense carbonation rounding it out. 7/10.

D: Well if it sounds like I’m being a bit of a negative Nigel with this review it’s only because there are so many great Red IPAs out there – as noted: Modus Former Tenant, KAIJU! Hopped Out Red, Prancing Pony India Red Ale to name a few. Whilst this CoConspirator is sufficiently decent the competition is tight in this space [plus I had a Hopped Out Red recently and damn it was delicious]. 8/10.

Food match: Hard to go past steak and fries with a mixed mushroom salad.