Review Date 11/13/2013
Try? Re-buy?
Let me tell you, you haven’t lived until you’ve gone to beer camp. I went to Oldenberg’s Beer Camp in Fort Mitchell, KY many moons ago. And while that brewery (sadly) is now defunct, others have taken up the banner of beer camp. One of them is Sierra Nevada Brewing of Chico, California. This Beer Camp is a little different, however, so it’s probably best to explain why.
Oldenberg’s camp was all about drinking beer, experiencing beer, learning about beer, and enjoying beer. Sierra Nevada’s camp has all that going for it too, but with one important difference: you get to make beer, too. It’s also a bit tougher to get into. To attend Oldenberg Beer Camp, one plunked down one’s hard earned cash and got to Fort Mitchell (just outside Cincinnati). Money won’t buy your way into Sierra Nevada’s camp. Instead, you have to go the Beer Camp Website and make a case as to why you should be selected as a Beer Camper.
Even if you don’t get to go, though, you can still enjoy the fruits of Beer Campers’ labors in the Sierra Nevada Best of Beer Camp 12-pack sampler. The sampler offers 3 bottles each of four different past beer camp favorites. Under consideration tonight: Sierra Nevada Beer Camp #65: Imperial Red Ale.
From the label:
This Imperial Red Ale takes the intense hop profile in a traditional double IPA and turns up the malt. It has big aromatic hop notes of grapefruit, peach, and melon-balanced by a smooth and surprisingly robust malt body.
Sierra Nevada Imperial Red Ale Beer Camp 65 pours to a dark ruby red color with a thick creamy head formation and a big juicy-fruity, citrus-hoppy malt nose. A thick layer of Brussels lace clings to the sides of the glass as the liquid descends. Taking a sip the beer has a big chewy stewed malt flavor upront. The palate is absolutely bursting with fruit, berries and pear with subtle chocolate followed by a massive hop attack. Very citrusy in aroma with a hint of resiny pine as well, but mostly citrus. A long dry bitter finish lingers on the tongue, with a touch of alcohol warmth (the beer has an alcohol content of 8.1% by volume).
My one quibble here is the price, at $19.99 a 12-pack that's $3 more than i pad for Beer Camp beers in 2011.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft