Sierra Nevada 2013 Beer Camp #95 Imperial Red Ale

The Sierra Nevada Brewing Company is from Chico, California. This 8.5% ABV Imperial Red Ale is part of their annual Best of Beer Camp series. Apparently people can submit videos and be chosen to attend beer camp, where the attendees learn about beer and choose the styles for that year's beer camp releases.

The beer pours a deep and dark copper and amber, turning almost ruby or garnet. There is a relatively short, but thick, head of very light brown foam. Some sticky lacing coats parts of the glass. The aroma is citrus and pine, fruity tang, rich and caramel malt. The taste is a duel of the flashing sabers of rich caramel malt and fruity, citrus hops. The finish is dry and quite bitter, growing increasingly so as the beer goes on. It is medium bodied and fairly smooth.