Imperial Reds (Not Nugget Nectar!)

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by BKBassist, Jul 19, 2013.

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  1. Ri0

    Ri0 Initiate (0) Jul 1, 2012 Wisconsin

    Isn't Sierra Nevada going to have one in their beer camp this year?
     
    SenorHops likes this.
  2. nc41

    nc41 Initiate (0) Sep 25, 2008 North Carolina
    Trader

    Love G Knight, a little quirky like most Oskar Blues stuff and for whatever reason regardless of the style their brews are distinctive unto themselves. You can pick them out blind folded.
     
    JuliusCaesar likes this.
  3. nickapalooza86

    nickapalooza86 Initiate (0) Feb 23, 2010 Wisconsin

    Ale Asylum has one called Ambergeddon, 6.8% so not quite an imperial but damn close and very tasty!
     
    Jfriz25, BDEE and VelvetExtract like this.
  4. totalbangover

    totalbangover Initiate (0) Jul 3, 2012 Michigan
    Trader

    Doesn't look like they distribute to New York but Finch's Fascist Pig is a great imperial red. Total sleeper beer.
     
    BDEE likes this.
  5. MacQ32

    MacQ32 Pooh-Bah (1,625) Mar 5, 2010 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    Oskar Blues G'Night and Green Flash Hop Head Red
     
    CincyTK likes this.
  6. tdmccarthy

    tdmccarthy Initiate (0) May 6, 2010 Illinois

    I loved Bells This One Goes to 11 and Two Brothers Revelry. I hope they both get released again this fall.
     
  7. spicoli00

    spicoli00 Pooh-Bah (2,305) Jul 6, 2005 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    Lagunitas Lucky 13, though not labeled an imperial is toeing the line. I have seen this on sale for $3.50 for a bomber.
     
    Sazz9, BDEE, OldhouseRecs and 4 others like this.
  8. meanmutt

    meanmutt Grand Pooh-Bah (3,883) Feb 6, 2012 Ohio
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Great Lakes Nosferatu is a tasty one. September release.
     
  9. Redbeerman

    Redbeerman Initiate (0) Jan 11, 2013 Maryland

    This is one of my favorites. Can't get it here in Maryland, but when I go up to NY I the fall, I usually pick some up.
     
  10. Boonedog

    Boonedog Initiate (0) Apr 10, 2013 Illinois

    Lucky 13 was going to be my choice. Available here for $3.99 bombers.
     
  11. VelvetExtract

    VelvetExtract Pooh-Bah (2,900) Jan 10, 2010 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

  12. TheNightwatchman

    TheNightwatchman Initiate (0) Mar 28, 2009 Pennsylvania

    Hop Head Red from Green Flash is a good choice. I just had it for the first time a few days ago.
     
  13. Smakawhat

    Smakawhat Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,191) Mar 18, 2008 Maryland
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Lagunitas Mondo 13
    Green Flash Hop Head Red
    Nosferatu
    BottleTree Red is quite nice also
     
  14. DrStiffington

    DrStiffington Grand Pooh-Bah (3,740) Oct 27, 2010 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Yes. Forgot about this one but Zoe is very tasty!
     
  15. kirkse

    kirkse Initiate (0) Dec 31, 2010 Florida

    I'll second Zoe and add Brewery Vivant's Big Red Coq.
     
  16. Rollzroyce21

    Rollzroyce21 Pooh-Bah (2,211) Oct 24, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah

    Two of the top imperial reds are made by Alesmith:
    My Bloody Valentine and Evil Dead Red.

    They just started bottling both this year (if I remember correctly). Evil Dead Red is an October release. Hunt-worthy.

    Edit: Just remembered you aren't looking for hop-forward reds, but still, these are fantastic.
     
  17. dianimal

    dianimal Savant (1,006) Apr 18, 2012 California

    The Bruery has Loakal Red which I think is very good. They also have, in their Preservation Series, one called Imperial Loakal Red. I haven't tried this one. I know not very available, but maybe you could find someone willing to trade.
     
    2beerdogs likes this.
  18. Ericness

    Ericness Zealot (646) Nov 21, 2012 Massachusetts

    G'Knight cannot be repeated enough in this conversation.

    Slumbrew Lobstah Killah is also very good but quite in G'Knight territory.
     
    MacQ32 likes this.
  19. jmw

    jmw Initiate (0) Feb 4, 2009 North Carolina

    This is one of the most ambiguous 'styles' in existence. BJCP does not even offer one of their forced guidelines for what constitutes a red ale, including most examples of what people think of as a red under American ale (amber). The BA certainly does (also under amber though), but they pretty much recognize everything ever brewed as a separate style. American-Belgo Style Session Imperial Export Coffee-flavored Barrel-aged Brett Indiginous Beer with Honey/Pumpkin anyone? sheeesh...
    'Imperial red' is just a terminus of a gradient of a 'style' that really doesn't exist.
    They both do recognize Irish red however.

    Good examples of this that have already been mentioned: Nosferatu changed it's label just a year or so ago to say 'red' I'm assuming because it's previous moniker 'strong ale' was probably not selling it very well. Lucky 13 also used to be classified as an American old ale/strong ale on this very site I believe.
    Red ales only exist in marketing and imagination. And Ireland apparently.
     
  20. nc41

    nc41 Initiate (0) Sep 25, 2008 North Carolina
    Trader

    I've had enough NN over the years, still doesn't wow me, but the bottle is nice.
     
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