Long Trail - Centennial Red

Long Trail - Centennial Red (Imperial Red) 7.9%abv - Bridgewater Corners, VT
22oz dark brown bottle. Brewed on date stamped on bottle
It pours a dusky teak amber color with an off-white, fast-fizzling head, along with loads of sticky lace.
A brisk breath of resinous hop aroma is released upon opening and after a sturdy pour. Woody malt and horse stable smells follow. Light citrusy and rummy perfume smells linger, then fade.
This brew is all about the potent Imperial Red flavors. The resiny hops and sweet malts are on equal footing. White grapefruit-like citrusy tang and a bit of a metallic bite are quite upfront. A thin honey sweetness rides a Triple Sec-like alcoholic fuminess.
This is a very good representation of the Imperial Red (although there doesn't appear to be an official style) style.
I would enjoy creamy cheeses, a hearty game stew, milk chocolate, ice cream or creme brulee and wild berries with this one.

Napa Smith Brewery - Lost Dog Red Ale

Napa Smith Brewery - Lost Dog Red Ale 7.2% abv - Napa, CA
22 oz dark brown bottle. No freshness date. Poured into a Sam Adams fluted glass.
It pours a coppery amber color with a fast-fading off-white head. Some patchy and web lacing.
It smells of wet citrusy hops and fresh bread dough. A little whiff of alcohol is noticed.
A big dose of hops is upfront and in the finish. Citrus, metallic and resinous flavors are all quite potent. A sweet caramel maltiness inches forward. Tart berries and a gin-like alcoholic bite poke through.
It's a well-rounded brew with a fairly rich body.
Think spicy Jambalaya, hot wings or crispy pepperoni pizza.

Harpoon Leviathan Series – Imperial Red Ale

Boston, MA - 9.2% abv - Bottled by date 02/12/10

Pours a ruby-hued amber color with a firm rocky beige head, with some patchy lacing.
Smells of pink grapefruit, cut wet hay, lemon zest and white rum vie for attention. The aroma fades rather fast and blends into a malt-based mealy smell with traces of rum lingering.
Bold tastes of grapefruit bang the palette from the start. Sweet lemons with a slight metallic tang follow. Malty caramel and doughy bread flavors gain some ground, as does the warming alcohol fuminess. A pleasant taste of orange Lifesavers comes to mind.
The mouthfeel is well-rounded and slightly slick. The flavors are all large with very few subtleties to consider.