Vermont has many great breweries, and the Long Trail Brewery (website)happens to be one of the more well known ones outside of the state. Long Trail released the Centennial Red Ale in the late fall (November) of 2010 for their Brewmaster's Series and made availabe through January. It was brewed to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of North America's oldest hiking trail (theLong Trail). Their Brewmaster Series are limited releases brewed in small batches.
It was sold at my local liquor store as a 22oz bomber for around $5. This imperial red ale has approximately 7.9% Alcohol by Volume (ABV). It contains 55 International Bitterness Units (IBU) and is brewed with Nugget, Chinook, and of course, Centennial hops. The Centennial Red is brewed with two-row, caramel, roasted barley, and chocolate malts. Contrary to Coors belief, not all beer is meant to be served and drank at "Super Cold" temperatures. This beer is meant to be enjoyed between 45 and 55 degrees Farenheit.
I poured into a signature Long Trail pint glass and immediately noticed its excellent carbonation and a perfect frothy 2 finger head. It smells sweet and citrusy. The color is typical of an American Amber with deep redish/brown hue. The mouthfeel was smooth and crisp, perfect for a strong red ale. There is a strong presence of alcohol with caramel and some roasted malts that makes this beer slightly sweet. There is however a good balance between the sweet malts and citrusy hops. This beer has limited drinkability due to the high alcohol content. I would recommend this well balanced beer to anyone. Aside from the minor taste of alcohol, this is a very smooth beer. Not the best from Long Trail, but not too shabby!
Cheers!
You should be getting paid to write reviews to a nationwide magazine.
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