Beer Camp ’12 Imperial Red Ale
Style: Imperial Red Ale
Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, CA
ABV: 8.1%
Purchased: BevMo, $20, 12-pack/12-oz. bottles
Sierra Nevada Beer Camp is a great idea. Each year (although I believe this is only the second) the brewery solicits videos from craft-beer enthusiasts, each giving their best pitch as to why they should be chosen to go to Chico to, well, I’ll let them explain it:
“The program is a full-immersion, hands-on beer education. Beer Camp participants get VIP access to the brewery in Chico to see the quality, history, and craftsmanship that goes into making our beer. The campers are treated to a brewery tour and training with brewers to experience the unique and inviting environment that makes Sierra Nevada special. Campers work with brewers to develop a name, concept and recipe for a new beer of their choosing, which is produced and distributed to a very select number of accounts.”
Ten winning videos are selected by popular vote, and ten by brewery staff. Four Camp recipes are bottled and sold in the Beer Camp variety 12-packs. After previously tasting the Floral IPA, for this go-round I chose the Imperial Red Ale.
Sierra Nevada describes the Imperial Red Ale as a double IPA with the malt turned up. They ain’t kiddin’. The nose has that classic Sierra Nevada hop signature, like standing next to a pine tree and getting a slight whiff of sap. The added malt gives an extra dimension of earth and a slight hint of leather.
The extra malt also adds complexity to the palate. That IPA hoppiness is of course present, but the malt gives it layers of toffee and butterscotch. While I love the uber-hoppy beers, this has a dimension pure Double IPA’s don’t. This beer is fantastic. I would expect nothing less from Sierra Nevada.