Redhook is in an interesting position in the beer world, being one of the original American microbreweries (founded in 1981 in Seattle) that somehow is easy to forget is still around. I don’t mean this maliciously at all, I like (and always have) Redhook, but the series of acquisitions and market changes over the years have contributed to obscuring the company from view.

Redhook is currently owned by Tilray and continues to brew good beer, and this summer the company sent me its Big Ballard Imperial IPA collection to sample; you can read more about the collection and new addition (Big Juicy) at that post. So without further ado let’s get to reviews!

Big Ballard Imperial IPA

This is Redhook’s original imperial IPA, with 8.6% ABV and 66 IBUs. The description from the website says:

In 1981, Redhook Brewery was born in a converted transmission shop in Ballard, kickstarting the Seattle craft brewing movement. Big Ballard Imperial IPA is a tribute to our original stomping grounds. A longtime pub favorite, Big Ballard lives up to its name with a bold and aggressive hop profile, deep golden body, and crisp finish that will leave you wanting more.

According to the label, this was brewed and packaged in Portland.

Appearance: Deep orange color with an unfiltered (not hazy) look; like honey. Good and lacy off-white head.

Smell: Big piney hop notes that evoke a bit of Northwest nostalgia for me, also some homebrew nostalgia of brewing with classic C-hops. Some orange, orange peel, dank notes, and a bit of crystal malt though it’s more restrained than I remember and toasty.

Taste: Classic imperial IPA, bold and bitter with an earthy, resinous hop character that leaves big lingering bitterness (which evokes black tea, dandelions). Not nearly as caramelly as I’d expected, but there’s a bit of burnt sugar along with toasted rye bread. A light kick of alcohol brings the point home.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full-bodied, good attenuation for a pretty dry finish, with a long long lingering bitterness.

Overall: It’s a classic, still doing it’s thing. I enjoyed it.

Tropical Big Ballard Juicy IPA

This is the lightest of the four, clocking in at (only) 7.2% ABV with 45 IBUs. It’s brewed with several fruits—orange, pineapple, star fruit, and coconut. The website says:

Tropical Big Ballard is a big beer with big IPA flavors to live up to the name, but with a bit of a softer touch. Brewed with mouthwatering natural Orange, Pineapple, Starfruit & Coconut, this IPA puts you at ease with every sip, as if you were on a beach in a tropical destination. Perhaps Aruba? Jamaica? Ohh I want to take you to Bermuda, Bahama, come on Captain Ballard! We’ll get there fast and take it slow! That’s where we want to go. To that place in the garage where we go to get away from it all. All aboard!

Appearance: Hazy golden color, effervescent, with a good off-white head and lace.

Smell: Medley of fruits that gives orange and bubblegum (more like the fruity gum) at first, then as it sits I get coconut, pineapple. Almost a bit suntan lotion-y, and perhaps a touch old, maybe a hint of oxidation?

Taste: More bitter than fruity or juicy, with a touch of spice reminding me of arugula and tobacco; there’s some coconut but at the back and it’s just sort of there, but unremarkable. Graham cracker maltiness and some pineapple and orange flavor without the sweet juiciness you’d expect.

Mouthfeel: Medium to medium-full body with some spice things going on into the aftertaste.

Overall: It’s okay, the aroma highlights the fruit but the flavor is lacking.

Big Juicy Ballard Imperial IPA

This is the newest in the Big Ballard line, the strongest of the bunch albeit the lowest IBUs, with 9.5% ABV with 30 IBUs.  It’s brewed with “natural flavors” without specifying specifics, and the website says:

You’ve been hard at work. We can tell. You’re building the next bigger and better and you deserve a beer that works as hard as you do. Juicy Big Ballard is a remarkably drinkable Imperial IPA, dripping with juicy tropical flavors. You’ve earned a sip of that good life. So grab a can and we’ll take it from there, Captain.

Appearance: Hazy look, golden colored that reminds me of fruity (apricot), ample off-white head, lacy as they all have been.

Smell: Nicely juicy with big notes of orange, tangerine, quite a fresh-squeezed quality with a bit of freshly grated zest. Bright with no indication of its strength. “Juicy” is the main note, which fits the name.

Taste: There’s nice fruit and fruit juice flavors here—a bit of a spicy, orange-y note—and here I do taste the strength as a spicy alcohol note making itself known. There’s a really nice balance with big maltiness, good fruity, and hop levels that make this work—it’s tasty and big but refreshing.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full-bodied with a smooth silky finish.

Overall: Really good, well-brewed all around.

Hazy Big Ballard Imperial IPA

What would an IPA lineup be without a hazy IPA these days? This Big Ballard series is no exception, hence we have Hazy Big Ballard. It’s 8.7% ABV with 40 IBUs, and from the website:

Hazy Big Ballard is what we call a “PNW-Style Hazy” – bold and juicy, with citrus and tropical flavors, a soft body, and a lingering hop bite on the finish.

In 1981, Redhook Brewery was born in a converted transmission shop in Ballard, Seattle. Back in those days, building a brewery from the ground up was no easy task, but the delicious beer at the end of the journey made the long hours all worth it. Hazy Big Ballard is bold and juicy, with citrus and tropical flavors, a soft body and lingering hops on the finish. Whatever you’re building, Hazy Big Ballard is the perfect way to cap off a long day and give you the reward you have earned.

Appearance: Hazy orange, translucent and mostly opaque, with a rich-looking off-white head with good lacing.

Smell: Lupulin powder, sweet citrus, pineapple, tobacco, kind of a yellow cake batter note, and a touch of floral alcohol character. Fairly mild for all that.

Taste: Nice jammy/compote character with a spicy bitterness, and yes, I get an allium note. Some pleasant sweetness that I think is a combo of the malt and the alcohol. A juice note, in my head I’m thinking apricot juice, with a touch of dandelion; stone fruit, tree sap, super light green peppercorn.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full body, creamy texture, light spicy character going into the finish.

Overall: It’s a pretty nice beer, with well-handled flavors for a hazy (especially an imperial hazy); nicely drinkable.