Captain America hates it! That was my first thought when I saw Red Skull Imperial Red Ale for sale at Half Time Beverage. Into my cart went a can, because it is brewed by Chicago's Revolution Brewing (I love them), it's not just a red ale (I love them too), but an imperial red ale (I really love them). Oh and the label art is really, really cool too.
Red ales use stewed malts to obtain their characteristic nutty flavors and gentle sweetness. Stewed malts like caramel malt and crystal malt are kilned wet to allow the malts to caramelize; more starches are converted to unfermentable sugars like destrins that add flavor but that yeast cannot digest.
Revolution Red Skull Imperial Red Ale has an alcohol content of 9.3% by volume with 60 IBUs and my can is stamped FILLED 09/25/25. This is a limited release from Revolution, so I say buy it if you see it.
About Revolution Brewing
In the summer of 1995, Josh Deth landed a job at Golden Prairie Brewing. At this now-defunct brewery, Josh was just a novice, where he started learning the beer business by dutifully cleaning kegs and scrubbing tanks. Revolution Brewing opened up in February 2010, and is now Illinois' largest independently-owned brewery.
Revolution Red Skull Imperial Red Ale in a Finch's Beer Co. Glass
Tasting Notes
Revolution Red Skull Imperial Red Ale pours to a deep ruby russet color with a thick creamy eggshell head and a nose of fresh stewed malt and fragrant earthy hops. Taking a sip, the beer is medium in body to perhaps a tad more. It quickly pops with fresh stewed malt notes of toasted bread with red berries, a hint of caramel, and a light touch of chocolate. It finishes dry with earthy herbal notes of grassy hops that are long, dry and very bitter indeed.
Value & Verdict
I paid $5.49 for my can at Half Time, which seems very reasonable. This is the only pricing information that I have.
Perhaps too easy drinking for an imperial, it is a delicious beer and I enjoyed it immensely. I will have the one Captain America passed on, if you don't mind.
