From the Beer Writer: I enjoy every type of beer, but of all the ales and lagers in the almost infinitely varied sudscape, the style I tend to have the least love for are hoppy red ales. In theory, they make sense, maltiness punctuated and given increased aromatics care of complimentary hop varietals…but that’s easier said than brewed. In creating a hoppy red, a brewer is looking to achieve an elusive balance, and many end products just come up short in that department. Not true with Pacific Islander Beer Co.‘s Sunset Red, which melds deep caramel, toffee malt character with tropical-fruit flavors and aromas from an abundance of Mosaic hops. It’s a well-balanced beer that, when sipped on PIB’s outdoor, island-themed patio, makes those environs feel more Maui than Santee.
From the Brewery: “I’ve always loved red ales from the early days of Karl Strauss‘ Red Trolley Ale to the now-extinct Stone Levitation Ale from Stone Brewing. Also loving IPAs, one beer that really struck a perfect balance for me was the original Hop Head Red from Green Flash Brewing. In designing Sunset Red, I wanted a smooth red with hop character to it but not as much as Hop Head Red. While using different specialty malts, including flaked oats to give it a smooth mouthfeel, I added 1.8 pounds per-barrel of Mosaic in the whirlpool and dry-hop stages to give it a great tropical and stone-fruit aroma. It’s one of my favorite beers I make. Come by our tap room and give it a try. Aloha!”—Will Fox, Head Brewer, Pacific Islander Beer Co.