BeerCritic

sensory first impression: Smells wonderful, malty. Illustration is a little overdone for me, but fun. Amber pour with a tan head. Hop sentiment note on bottle does not disappoint – a beautiful beer, and aroma intensifies. Head is thick and natural and firm. Quite a fetching ale. Angry red haze – with hops to match – what a great biting flavor. So very bitter, but sweetly balanced. Dark flavor. Not nearly the whimsical identity of its label. Lacing is nice already. Foam is rocky and bulbous. This is a high scorer. Attention spreads over the back top of the mouth and the very front of the tongue.

Aroma/Olfactory:
Malt flavor is: caramel, black coffee, nuts, and rye.
Hop flavor is: basil, celery, and rye.
Yeast flavor is: earthy, dusty.
Other flavors include: Grapefruit. Pine. Very fine.

Visuals/Appearance:
Color is: pale, angry red, with hints of deeper brown.
Liquid is: hazy and cloudy. Sandblasted.
Head and lace are: bumpy, reducing over time to a thinner film, light tan

Taste/Flavor:
Maltiness or Sweetness level is: high medium
Hoppiness or Bitterness level is: heavy
Sour level is: light, and very nice.

Palate/Tactile:
Body or Mouthfeel is: high medium
Texture is: creamy, sticky, crisp
Carbonation is: quiet, but crisp
Finish is: very long, and quite enjoyable.

Overall experience: Reminds me of Victory hopped up ales quite a bit. Beautiful. I love this beer – as a special treat, it’s very nice. It might as well be imported, being from Cali, but it’s delicious and it’s special. If you like hops, you can’t go wrong here – it’s in my top 5, for sure.