Green Flash Brewing Company- Hop Head Red: Big Red Hoppy Giant

I have been very fortunate to come across some great Red Ales.  The last was Lagunitas’ Lucky 13 and it was amazing.  I typically like reds.  The review I am about to do next is a highly rated, beloved red that borders on IPA territory.  Why might you ask?  Well, it is the dry hopping that this brew goes through that gives it its super hoppy characteristics.  I loved Green Flash Brewing Company’s West Coast IPA and I am pretty sure that I am going to love Hop Head Red.  Any beers name that starts with Hop Head is right up my alley…hopefully I won’t be left in the gutter.

Green Flash Brewing Company classifies this brew as a Red Ale and their website describes Hop Head Red as, “Resinous hop character and bitterness balance the rich carmel malt base. We took it a step further and Amarillo dry-hopped the brew to 45 ibu's, creating refreshing and savory hop flavors and aromas. Is it red IPA? That's your call.”

Hop Head Red pours a dark Caramel/Red color with a ½” khaki head and shares citrus, floral & resinous hop aromas and is 6.4% ABV.

Well, like our great first President, I cannot tell a lie…I’ve had Hop Head Red on multiple occasions.  Each and every time I have had the opportunity to enjoy this brew, I bask in the bitterness of this big red hoppy giant.  Hop Head Red is an instant classic and should be the true red treasure of red ale lovers everywhere.  The flavor is so amazingly balanced that it’s not too bitter nor is it too sweet, it’s just right.  You get a really nice bite in the beginning, sweet malt middle and a citrusy hop finish.  It is no surprise that Hop Head Red has won medals at both The Great American Beer Festival and The World Beer Cup.  If you’ve never had the opportunity to try Hop Head Red, where the hell have you been hiding??  On your next trip to your favorite craft beer store or bar ask for some Hop Head Red, you won’t be disappointed.

ABV: 6.4%

Consumed: New Belgium Globe Glass

Verdict: Buy A Case

Green Flash Brewing Company- Hop Head Red Ale: One of a kind

The more beers you review the more they start to run together. One company that keeps popping up as an original must try brew house is Green Flash Brewing Company. People are always asking me if I have tried any of their brews, and where they can find them. Tonight I get to review my first endeavor from this Southern California brew company.

Hop Head Red Ale jumps out of the bottle. It pours a robust dark-amber paired with a whipped cream thick, caramel colored head. This brew is hazy and dark with a limited carbonation that some how seems to give the look and feel of a medieval potion. The aroma is dry hoppyness that gives way to very sweet, almost red wine scent. If you think this beer seems hard to pin down, you’re astute and accurate.

The flavor is just as mysterious. There is no defining our overwhelming trait present; instead the drinker is treated to a tornado of flavors on their palette. This beer is like having a bar fight on your tongue, in a good way. The mouthfeel is actually close to a porter, with a smokey, coffee punch. However there is also a hoppy bite that is intertwined, due to the dry hopped Amarillo hops.

Green Flash’s Hop Head Red Ale is a beer without a peer. I have never found a beer that could satisfy a porter lover and an IPA junkie. This is a beer that is gonna divide people faster than Obamacare. But that should not stop the curious. This is must try beer. If you are a beer eccentric, it might just become your new favorite. It remains a genre bender without a doubt. Give it shot, you owe it to yourself.

ABV 6.4%

Consumed: Globe Glass

Verdict: Buy A Twelve Pack