Vancouver Island Brewery is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a special Imperial Red Ale.

This is a big and bold brew that pours almost black but more of a deep red/bronze when held to the light.  On the nose, it’s slighly hoppy but with a distinct molasses sweetness that you get from a barley wine.  The sweetness comes through on first taste with hints of raisin and caramel.  You can detect the west coast hops in the background but they play more of a supporting role.  The sweetness carries on and subsides somewhat in the finish where it gives way to a slight spruce-like hop.  This is a rich and thick brew weighing in at 8.5% abv…a very unique imperial red that is fun to drink.  Kudos to VIB for their originality and congrats for 30 years of great brews!