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20th Anniversary Imperial Red Ale

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Big caramel malt and a huge citrusy hop flavor with Cascade, plus notes of dark fruit. At 9.5% ABV and 73 IBU it is built to be bold. Red Rock first brewed it for its 20th anniversary in 2014 and has made it the same way since; the brewmaster once described it as the brewery's Amber Ale supercharged, with a much richer bouquet.

ABV
9.5%
Bitterness
Very bitter73 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
amber14
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
citrusycaramelhoppy
citrusy
caramel
hoppy
malty
dark fruit
Aroma
Bright citrus notes lead the bouquet, driven by Cascade hops and layered with rich caramel malt sweetness.
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for 20th Anniversary Imperial Red Ale

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to light copper hue with excellent clarity and a dense, off-white head that clings persistently to the glass. Fine carbonation delivers steady streams and strong lacing that coats the walls as the beer is consumed.

deep copperdense headpersistent lacing

◌ Aroma

Bright citrus notes lead the bouquet, driven by Cascade hops and layered with rich caramel malt sweetness. Dark fruit character—plum and raisin—emerges in the background, supported by a warming alcohol presence that anchors the aromatic profile.

citrus-forwardcaramel maltdark fruit noteswarming alcohol

◐ Taste

Bold entry of caramel and toffee malt gives way to pronounced citrusy hop character across the mid-palate, with secondary dark fruit notes adding depth and complexity. Bitterness is substantial at 73 IBU but remains balanced by the malt backbone; the alcohol warmth at 9.5% ABV is present but integrated.

citrus bitemalt sweetnessbalanced bitternessfull body

◑ Finish

Long, lingering finish with citrus and caramel notes persisting into a dry, slightly warming aftertaste. The hop bitterness extends cleanly without harshness.

dry finishcitrus linger
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
80
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with 20th Anniversary Imperial Red Ale

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About Imperial Red Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Imperial Red Ale?

Imperial Red Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Imperial Red Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same citrusy, caramel, hoppy character as 20th Anniversary Imperial Red Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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