Alaskan Pilot Series Imperial Red Coming 12/1, Spring Black IPA Coming 1/1

  Alaskan Brewing Co. is excited to announce the December 1 release of the newest addition to its popular Pilot Series, the Alaskan Imperial Red. The new brew balances big, caramel-dominated malt flavors, a complex, intense hop-forwardness featuring new hop varieties, and a warming finish. The release of this limited edition seasonal coincides with the gourmet winter flavors of Alaska.

“Alaska is a different place,” said Productions & Operations Manager Dave Wilson. “In most of the rest of the world, winter seasonal releases are very malt-forward beers with flavors that complement products from the farm, but in Alaska, our winter harvest comes from the sea, primarily in the form of Alaskan King Crab. This new, hop-forward Imperial Red pairs beautifully with those flavors.”

Alaskan Imperial Red is a full-bodied, deep mahogany ale with ruby red highlights. Citrus notes of chamomile, grapefruit, and Meyer lemon brighten the aroma. A zesty array of hop flavors from mango and bitter orange to green mint and hibiscus meld with the nutty, roasted caramel and subtle dried fruit flavors of the complex malt profile to create a surprisingly fresh, yet warming example of the style.

“We have taken years to perfect this beer,” explains Quality Assurance Analyst Darin Jensen, who first teamed up with other members of the Alaskan crew to brew 1-barrel experimental batches of the Imperial Red recipe in 2009. “When the industry experienced the hop shortage [of 2010], we basically had to start over because the hops we’d been using weren’t available anymore,” said Jensen. “We finally achieved the flavor profile we’d been working toward using the new Meridian hop variety – it adds this great minty, greenness that just rounds everything out perfectly.”

The strong flavors of Alaskan Imperial Red should be paired with equally flavorful foods like rich Alaskan king crab or Black Cod. Spicier foods with earthy or bready notes, such as fried mozzarella with spicy marinara sauce, red curry with potatoes, or French onion soup, also bring out both the hoppy and malty characters of the Imperial Red.

Alaskan Imperial Red is a new member of Alaskan’s growing list of rotating specialty recipes released in the brewery’s limited-edition Pilot Series.

The bold and complex Imperial Red releases in 22 oz bottles and on draft in select locations on December 1, throughout Alaska and the western states where Alaskan beers are sold. The new brew will be available in limited quantities for a short time.

Another seasonal favorite that pairs big malt with big hops, the Alaskan Spring Black IPA, will releases on January 1, 2013, just in time for the slowly lengthening days of early spring.

Learn more about where to find Alaskan Brewing products by using the Alaskan Brew Finder.
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