Karl Strauss Off The Rails
This is a review of a promotional sample received from the brewery.
Red Trolley’s bigger brotherI’m sure everyone’s heard the old adage, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” How about, “bigger is better”? Well, Karl Strauss Brewing has heard these before and, abiding by both sayings, has produced the bigger step-brother to their award winning Red Trolley Ale.
Off The Rails is just about a double Red Trolley, but not an exact replica that’s just stronger, or bigger. The brewery has upped the malts, the hops and the alcohol in comparison to the original, creating an imperial red ale that weighs in at 8.5% ABV and 40 IBU. Brewed in a limited quantity, the hop forward brew is chock full of everything that the company’s award winner is known for, but with a beefier malt presence, stronger hop finish and warming alcohol presence. It makes for a wonderfully crafted alternate version of the original.
Appearance
Reddish amber in color the beer is capped with a large, khaki colored head that faded nice and slow.
Aroma
A strong malt backbone (with hints of a light roast, dark fruits and caramel) is accompanied by piny, citrusy hops. It smells rich, earthy and well balanced.
Taste
It’s hard to say if this brew is just an amped up version of Red Trolley as it’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed the original, but from my past notes and memory, Off The Rails is a good deal more hoppy that its little brother. The sweet, caramel malts quickly give way to a solid hop presence that brings pine and citrus notes, as well as a healthy amount of bitterness that drifts slowly from memory. Despite the larger hop component the beer is still nicely balanced and smooth drinking — the higher ABV is hidden well, only showing up late in the finish as a light warming sensation.
Overall
I really enjoyed the brewery’s Red Trolley offering when I had the opportunity to sample it, but this bigger version of the beer is different. This bigger brother from another mother has a more pronounced hop character that really drives its flavor profile. Sure, there’s a solid malt structure that beer is built on, but the Willamette hops (not sure if Red Trolley uses the same) really make for beer that’s more a cross between a citrusy/piny west coast IPA and a smooth drinking red ale. Karl Strauss has a finely crafted brew on their hands with Off The Rails.
Rating: 4/5