Drakes Jolly Rodger 2010 Imperial Red Ale

From Drake’s – Heeeee’s back! We brew a different style for Jolly Rodger every year. For the 21st edition of our winter seasonal, we made it an Imperial Red Ale. Be prepared for a big, malty beer with a huge hop aroma. We mashed in with plenty of two-row barley, carared and chocolate malt for body and flavor. Then we hopped it up with Columbus for bittering, then for flavor and aroma– lots of Chinook and Cascade. Finally, we dry hopped in the fermenter with loads more Chinook and Cascade. Enjoy!

Drake’s Brewery – Drake’s Jolly Rodger 2010 Imperial Red Ale – 22 oz. bottle poured into an imperial pint glass. 8% abv. Purchased at Certified Market Monrovia,CA

Appearance: Pours a deep fairly translucent dark amber with a creamy beige head that retains quite well. Leaves behind foamy lacing.

Aroma: Piny hops, spice, brown sugar, fruit cocktail in lite syrup,caramel apple.

Taste: Caramel, burnt sugar, dark chocolate, big piny hops,herbal hops, hazelnut, hard candy, pear and apple. While sweet at first, finishes with sturdy bitterness that lingers. What I found to be interesting, was the chocolate malt didn’t come out for me until the beer was warmed up significantly.

Mouthfeel: Creamy, thick, modest carbonation.

Overall: A great example of one of my favorite styles. I like a little more citrusy dry hopping usually, but this was just fine the way it was. The chocolate notes separate this beer from others in it’s class.