Eagle Rock Red Velvet – GABF Pro-Am Gold Medal Winner

From The Full Pint – It has been sad being based out of Los Angeles, and not having a Los Angeles brewery to claim and  enjoy for as long as we’ve been in the game. We can wipe those tears away, as Eagle Rock Brewery in Los Angeles is taking baby steps towards greatness. Eagle Rock Brewery entered in their Red Velvet into the Pro-Am (free style) category and won the gold medal. These guys haven’t even been commercially brewing for a whole year yet. For any start-up brewery reading this, look to Eagle Rock for inspiration. The new small kid on the block CAN succeed in this crowded market. Other folks trying to start a brewery in Los Angeles, the bar has been set!

Eagle Rock Brewery – Red Velvet (A Hybrid Imperial Red with Rye Malt) – Poured on tap into a 12 oz. goblet at 38 Degrees Ale House, Alhambra, CA. 10% abv.

Appearance: Pours a dark amber with a creamy white head that subsides to a thin yet noticeable film. Leaves very sparse lacing on the glass.

Aroma: Sweet spicy cinnamon candle.

Taste: Earthy malt, hard candy, a bit of alcohol, finishing with spicy lingering Europ hops.

Mouthfeel: Syrupy, very coating with prickly carbonation.

Overall: A one of a kind, enjoyable beer.  Back in April, I tried this beer right after it was brewed and sent to 38 degrees Alehouse.  When I tried it then, I didn’t enjoy it. It had notes of PVC plastic, and was too carbonated for my liking, and the alcohol was out of control.  A few weeks back, I tried it again with my friends at Drink Eat Travel, and was amazed at the difference from this second batch.  I gave it another set of tasting notes at 38 degrees yesterday, and made sure the beer has been tweaked to gold medal perfection.  I can tell you whole heatedly it was.