Bear Republic Red Leader

Brewed by Bear Republic Brewing Company
Style: Baltic Porter
Healdsburg, California USA

Serve in English pint, Shaker, Snifter

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Draft at Bavarian Lodge (Lisle, IL). Pours a well hazed dark amber with touches of orange, glowing but dark, a big creamy near beige head sits atop and stays fairly large, laces pretty well. Aromas are fruity, a juicy west coast grapefruit and lemon hop pair with florals, a touch of toffee and toasty malts. Interesting.. More of a West Coast red on the nose. Initial is highly hopped, florals and grapefruit, piney resinous hops, weeds, toffee and caramel come from beneath, toast and bread. Very well hopped with juicy PacNW hops of citrusy grapefruit, lemon, and a big dose of pine. A touch of sweeter amarillo like gumball, but still big bitterness and moving toward a dry bitter finish. A touch depleted, caramel, toffee move in heavier, a decent body of heft but the hops cover it up fairly well. Lemonheads, florals, and amarillo, a touch hot from the florals and pine. An interesting overhopped beer, but very interesting. Maybe it’s just a hot beer, with dark fruit and toasted malts shining through in flashes, a touch of rye, cherries and dates.. But still, the hops dominate to me. An "interesting" call on a Baltic Porter.. But, I don’t see it. Still, tasty but a bit hot (but, I think because it’s overhopped)

Baltic porter??? This is proof that nearly every beer that Bear Republic brews is gonna be reddish brown and hoppy. Vague aroma. Tastes of caramel, toffee and light chocolate. Finishes like dark rye bread. Creamy and lush mouthfeel, kinda sweetish beer.

Tap at Bear Republic. A red porter? Ok. Color is indeed deep red, as the description would suggest, with an off-white head. Aroma of bready malt, roast, and slight dark fruit notes. Flavor is sweet caramel malt, roast, and cherry/dark fruits. Hops not very present. Smooth palate, medium body. Sort of a hybrid between a red ale and a Baltic porter overall.