Bitter Root Brewing brought a keg of Red Dread Imperial Red Ale to Missoula’s Winter BrewFest last month and it was the first beer to run out. There’s a good reason for that. It is a great brew.

Red Dread Imperial Red Ale is a spring seasonal first brewed last year, but being bottled in 22 oz. bombers for the first time this year.  It packs 8.7% abv into its cloudy, deep copper-red rich body. It has a fluffy beige head. Nice, spicy – with a touch of citrus – hop aromas say hello in a big way. Spicy hop flavors and hop bitterness dominate the early flavors, but they’re layered over a big caramel malt base. It is brewed with 8 specialty malts and dry hopped with Citra and CTZ hops.  The beer is big, but the balance between hops and malt is kept nicely in check.  The aromas and flavors strongly resemble a double IPA. Despite the high alcohol, the beer stays very pleasantly drinkable, making it a dangerous pleasure.

If you missed out at the Winter BrewFest – or, like us, were ready for more – you’ll find 22 oz bombers available for sale around western Montana for an impressively reasonable price ($3.49 at Missoula’s Worden’s Market recently).