Harder Day Imperial Red Ale
Steeplejack Brewing Company

Stovepipe can purchased from Wallace Road Plaid Pantry in West Salem OR.
$3.25
Lovely beer poured into my glass, slightly murky hazelnut brown. With an absolutely wonderful creamy thick tan head. Lace is phenomenal.
Aroma so malty..so hoppy..just over the top great. Dark brown bread like malts with bright citrus and then a bit of dank in reserve hop aromas. It somehow works!
Taste similar balance with the citrus hops barely carrying the day in the end. But damn this deep dark rich malts, a thing of awe.
The mouth feel is full but at the same time well carbonated. I feel this is a bit of a chore in these hot summer nights, but by October..oh boy.
An excellent beer. Enjoyed.

Look: Dark red-amber in the glass and on the pour, which generates a huge off-white head that slowly settles to a pillow and leaves great lacing behind

Aroma: Pine sap and crushed needles, caramel, lemon, orange, freshly baked bread, earthy notes, tangelos, and toasted bread crust

Taste: Opens up with pithy citrus that brings out lemons, orange zest, and pomelo and quickly followed by a resinous hit of all things pine. Bready malt and caramel fight back some in the middle and earthiness starts to incorporate as well but the citrus/pine assault is not to be dampened and carries through to the close, along with a nice bite. No ethanol detectable

Mouthfeel: Full, medium-high carbonation, clean, and dry on the finish

Overall: This is my jam right here. I love Imperial Reds so gravitated to this with ease when I spotted it and glad it lived up to my own hype as it’s tasty. A well-made example that brings the usual cast of characters; citrus, pine, earthiness, and malt, and at all the right levels and proportions. Well worth the $3.25 purchase of the 19.2oz can and I’m pumped to be able to pick up stovepipes of this when the Impy Red itch comes a’ knockin’