Aroma: “Esters are up front with grape, some stewed apple, light pear, and red berry. Caramel malt with some toast in the background. A bit of herbal hops and maybe a hint of citrus.

Cola, burnt sugar, caramel, woody hops, mushrooms, and alcohol.”

Flavor: “Red berry, grape, and cola. Caramel and toast. It’s a big blend of crystal malt and West Coast hops. Body and sweetness are about right for style, but the West Coast hops highlight the caramel malt in a somewhat unique way. Creamy and effervescent with moderate bitterness and a dry finish.”

Overall: “This beer shows its strength but remains fairly balanced. It doesn’t fit the style definition, but the tweaks work to create a unique character. This is a crossover between an Imperial Red and a Wee Heavy. Fun idea, and one that gets rid of the harshness so common in big American reds.”