Oskar Blues "G'Knight" Imperial Red IPA

I've never had a beer before that has claimed to be both an imperial red ale and an IPA. I'm disinclined to create a new label for this unicorn, so I'm just going to give it both labels; that should be sufficient. It doesn't look like my choice of glass was correct. I expected a light redness added to a normal yellow or copper IPA. What I have looks more like a straight-out red ale. It's already subverting my expectations. It's kinda nice.

The very clear beverage is just a little too red to be an amber beer. The head is very fluffy, and it is a mixture of bubble sizes. There is some lacing left on the sides of the glass, but those bubbles are few and far between. The head itself settles down to an uneven yet complete covering across the top of the beer with a very strong ring around the sides. The aroma is more malt than most IPAs I run into, but the citrus and tropical fruits are self evident. 

First sip is striking. The caramel malt is thick, and it sweetens everything that follows. There is a bitterness coming from the hops, but it is very easily handled by this strident malt. Pine and citrus are mellowing in the caramel thickness, and the best way I can describe the effect of the beer is that it is no shrinking violet. The malt is very solid, and the hops are giving it quite a bit of flavor without nearly as much bitterness as your average IPA.

Tip-in is sweet caramel with orange and grapefruit peels and no carbonation to speak of. The middle is sudden increased carbonation as the smoothness of the malt coats the tongue for the pine, grapefruit peel, and unexpected yeast. The finish is more bitterness than I tasted in the sip, but it is still well handled while the 8.7% ABV asserts itself in a not entirely pleasant way.

Bottom Line: They're on to something.

3.25/5