Imperial Red Ale #8 - Epic Brewing Company

 http://www.epicbrewing.com

An important vintage ale from Epic Brewing, it will be hard to find one of these pint and and half bottles outside of special beer shops.  Another factor that makes this ale hard to find is its limited release, with only 1,800 bottles made.  Plus the price tag can turn some away at just under $7 dollars.  But with all of these limitations, the actual beer itself is a delight experiences for the senses. Being the eighth in the series of Imperial Red Ales, Epic Brewing has nearly perfected their formula.

Sight - A very dark red ale, with an equally amazing head, this ale presents itself as almost a challenge by observations alone.  Light can barley penetrate through the beer, showing that dark                                                                                           more important dry, hops that were used                                                                     in the making of this beer.

Smell - Just one tiny sniff of this bold beer reveals the caramel malts used in this beer.  It is not overwhelming, more of a hint than anything else.  What is strong with the smell of this beer is the strong hops used in combination with the malt.  Just as with the sight of this beer, in shows itself as another challenge to the drinker.  It invites, yet warns, the drinker.  Overall, the sweetness of the malt and the strength of the hops work together, begging the drinker to continue.

Taste - The big gulp.  The balance of the hops and the caramel malt finally breaks with a sip, with the hops's flavor charging forward over your taste buds.  The malt lingers afterwards, leaving a delightful sweet aftertaste in your mouth.  I highly recommend taking your time with this beer.  The faster you drink this beer, the less distinct the difference from the malt and the hops is lost.  That is the biggest feature of this beer.  Be sure to drink through the head of the beer, trying to leave most of it at the end of the drink.  It will give a nice sweet sensation, almost like a dessert after a hardy meal.  

Overall - A great sipping beer for a long night ahead.  It is a potent beer at 8.1% alcohol.  The price is a bit much if you are just looking for a high alcohol beer, but the mix between the malt and the hops leaves a long lasting appeal.  While I will not be buying anymore of this beer due to the price tag, but it is still a good one time experience that I would recommend sharing with a friend (and possible the price tag).

4 out of 5 Cheers!