American style is defined by a driving spirit to be bigger, better, faster, and stronger. This desire to be the best and beat our chests about it even seeps into our beloved world of beer. Sometimes this attitude leads to a delicious hop bomb or a yummy, malty, doozey of a stout, and other times it results in a cloyingly sweet seasonal or a mouth-inside-out sour. I'm proud of America's style of pushing boundaries, but balance will always be key for any beer in my glass. If a brewer can achieve both of those things, tread carefully. You might just find your next favorite beer...
Red Rock 20th Anniversary Imperial Red Ale
BG Poured from a 16.907 fl oz (500ml) bottle into a Red Rock branded stemmed tulip, 9.5% ABV, Bottled 09/26/14, Lot 622
A Deep copper in color with reddish hues, and three fingers of fluffy, tan head. An ornate lacing hugs the glass as I drink.
A Juicy citrus and floral hops dominate the nose. Bread crust and a touch of molasses are present. French toast, orange peel, and grapefruit are along for the ride as well.
T Toasted pumpernickel, dried fruit, dark cherries, nutty, pronounced bitterness from floral hops, roasted malt
M Med-heavy body, almost chewy, dries out the mouth on the finish
A Bitter hops, slight nuttiness, green grass
C This brew blows my mind. The flavors exist well independently, but it’s their arrangement, like each star in a constellation, that make such a thrilling big picture. There’s a giant burst of hops throughout the entire flavor profile, and the malt backbone shines nearly as bright. It’s rich but drinkable, fruity, yet dry. And there’s so much going on, it’s quite easy to forget this heavy hitter weighs in at 9.5%. Drink lightly or you’ll be seeing stars.
FP Chicken parmesan, grilled bratwurst with toasted bread and caramelized onions, pecan pie
The only place you can grab this beer is at one of Red Rock's four locations in or near Salt Lake City. Pick it up if you can, and count yourself among the lucky few. =)
BG Poured from a 16.907 fl oz (500ml) bottle into a Red Rock branded stemmed tulip, 9.5% ABV, Bottled 09/26/14, Lot 622
A Deep copper in color with reddish hues, and three fingers of fluffy, tan head. An ornate lacing hugs the glass as I drink.
A Juicy citrus and floral hops dominate the nose. Bread crust and a touch of molasses are present. French toast, orange peel, and grapefruit are along for the ride as well.
T Toasted pumpernickel, dried fruit, dark cherries, nutty, pronounced bitterness from floral hops, roasted malt
M Med-heavy body, almost chewy, dries out the mouth on the finish
A Bitter hops, slight nuttiness, green grass
C This brew blows my mind. The flavors exist well independently, but it’s their arrangement, like each star in a constellation, that make such a thrilling big picture. There’s a giant burst of hops throughout the entire flavor profile, and the malt backbone shines nearly as bright. It’s rich but drinkable, fruity, yet dry. And there’s so much going on, it’s quite easy to forget this heavy hitter weighs in at 9.5%. Drink lightly or you’ll be seeing stars.
FP Chicken parmesan, grilled bratwurst with toasted bread and caramelized onions, pecan pie
The only place you can grab this beer is at one of Red Rock's four locations in or near Salt Lake City. Pick it up if you can, and count yourself among the lucky few. =)
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