Review: 8-4-1 Expedition Ale

Last week I received a sample bottle of the latest brew in Redhook’s Limited Release series, 8-4-1 Expedition Ale.

Description

Hand crafted by 8 brewers working in 4 teams, this Imperial Brown Ale was developed from their individual recipes carefully blended into one distinctive ale. Rich and flavorful, brewed with cherry-wood smoked malts and brown sugar.

Style: American Strong Ale (American-Style Strong Brown, Imperial Brown)
ABV: 9.5%
IBUs: 55
Suggested Pairings: Smoked gouda, aged cheddar
Notes: Oak Aged, brewed with honey

Malts: 2-Row, Wheat, Munich, 2 types of Caramel, Chocolate and Cherry-wood Smoke

Hops: Alchemy, Willamette, Cascade, Crystal and Sterling

When I first read the description, I had some worries. Brown sugar, honey, smoked malts and oak chips all impart distinct flavors and I could see the potential for clashing. After surviving the weekend unmolested in the fridge, my wife and I sat down with the bottle of 8-4-1 Monday night while we watched the NCAA Championship game.

The brew poured a clear crimson color with chestnut highlights and a bright, near-white head. 8-4-1 was poured cold, so the initial aroma was mild, consisting of caramel malts and burnt sugars.

8-4-1 was very malt-forward; caramel-sweet with just a touch of dark fruit. While I detected no hop aroma and just a small earthy hop flavor, the hops made their presence known in the bitter, palate-wiping finish. The finish was long; sharp bitterness slowly gave way to an alcohol warmth. The beer was medium-bodied and creamy with a lowish, but appropriate, level of carbonation.

A little underwhelming at first, 8-4-1 really started to shine as it warmed up. As I sipped, the brew shuffled between woody, smoky and burnt sugar, but never more than one of these flavors at a time. As my tongue became comfortable with a flavor, it would disappear, giving way to the next. 8-4-1 is a beer that can’t be fully experienced with a 3 oz taster. I had an entire bottle and I’m sure there are some subtleties I missed.

When I talked earlier this week with Shannon, the rep who sent me the sample, I mentioned that if any barrels remain of the unblended ales that comprise 8-4-1, Redhook should consider hosting a horizontal tasting; each individual ale sampled alongside the final blended product. Full Sail’s recent horizontal tasting of their 2010 Top Sail Imperial Porter was well received. Shannon got back to me yesterday and unfortunately Redhook does not have any barrels of the unblended ales, so there is no chance at a horizontal tasting.

For those of you thinking about picking up a bottle of 8-4-1; while fine fresh, it could probably benefit from a little aging. Ezra hit on this in his review and I agree. The brew’s one low point, its overly-bitter finish, should fade over time, allowing you to experience what is hidden under all those hops. Bitterness issue aside, 8-4-1 is a worthy entry into Redhook’s already solid Limited Release series. Just remember, let it warm up, and drink it slow.

Cheers!
Kevin