Redhook 8-4-1 Expedition Ale

Redhook 8-4-1 Expedition Ale

An American-Style Strong Brown Ale developed by eight Redhook brewers working in four teams of two to create one beer. The ale reflects a compilation of each team’s individual receipes that were then carefully blended into one distinct beer. 8-4-1 Expedition Ale offers complexy flavor notes, delivering malty sweetness, medium bitterness with hints of smoked flavors and oak chips balanced by the addition of honey, brown sugar and candi sugar.



Style: American - Style Imperial Brown Ale


ABV: 9.5%


Malts: Pale, Wheat, Munich, Caramel, Chocolate, and Smoked Malt


Hops: Alchemy, Cascade, Willamette, Crystal, and Sterling


Bitterness Units: 55 IBU


Original Gravity: 20


Brewed Since: October 2009


Shelf Life: 365 days
3.5
163 reviews
Seattle, United States

Community reviews

3.4 Bottle @ home. Dark red orange appearance with a light brown head. Very sweet, thick caramel malty nose that’s well hopped with a fair amount of booze. Very sweet barley wine-like flavor with a smoked caramel malty flavor and a medium piney hoppy taste. Very sweet malty, piney hoppy finish.
3.5 10-Jun-10 (22-oz bottle: Purchased for $7.99 at BevMo in La Jolla, CA) Most standard 6-pack releases from Redhook are decent but unexciting, but the same can be said for a lot of other breweries too. However, like those other breweries, the 22-ounce special release beers tend to be quite solid, and the 8-4-1 Expedition is case in point. This oak-aged beer is malty, medium-sweet, and fairly caramely, yet balanced by grassy, moderately bitter hops and moderate oak influence. The somewhat resiny bitterness from the hops tends to give the finish considerable length. The nose offer a significant amount of hoppy grassiness, sweet and caramely malt, oak tinges and modest vanilla. While the beer has medium weight and average carbonation, there is a slight astringency on the palate from the oak aging, and alcohol adds a bit of warming. The body is ruddy amber in color with excellent clarity and the off-white head builds to almost an inch on the pour before settling at an average rate to a thin layer and wide ring. Solid beer, one I’d likely buy more of down the road if it weren’t a one-off.
3.8 It poured a murky brownish-red, reminiscent of an old penny, and sported deep ruby red highlights in the sun. If it was murky initially, it seemed to clear as it warmed, which makes me wonder if it was a little too cold. A heavy - but fluffy - off-white/beige head built to just over a finger thick and dissipated gradually, leaving sticky spots of lace along the glass and a thin collar surrounding light patches in the middle. --- The nose was a little difficult to pick up on, and as it warmed all of the complex aromas seemed to melt together, but I’m pretty happy with what I pulled out of it with the time (and amateur nose) I had. There were lots of sweetly toasted malts, some honey, a light woody oak scent, burnt caramel, and hints of vanilla as it warmed. There were very few hops that I could pick up on, though there was an odd citrus tint that didn’t seem to belong with the rest of the earthy compilations. After some research, I deduced that the citrus was thanks to the Cascade hops, which are used as an aroma-type cultivar and produce obvious floral and citrus tones. --- My first swig of this heavily wooded brew was pleasurably smooth, made up of a medium mouthfeel with small but adequate carbonation that created a surprising kick of spiciness that mellowed out quickly. Another reason for the spiciness was thanks to the Willamette hops, which are a triploid aroma-type cultivar that are actually Fuggle hop seedlings, and they are known for their spicy/woody characteristics. Many of the flavors that were present were very obvious thanks to the resemblance to the nose, with a sweet malt, quaint honey and vanilla flavors, and a strong wood/oak base; all I needed was to be sitting on a mossy rock in a thick forest watching little insects floating lazily through the sunbeams. --- All of the different tastes were quietly and subtly wrapped in a smokey cloak as it rolled off my tongue, leaving just enough room for a mild bitterness to leak into my taste buds. The flavor was definitely a stronger version of the nose and carried lots of oak and wood notes, making it the most nature-istic brew I’ve tasted yet. I would love to take this with on a camping trip up in the mountains, surrounded by the tranquility of the trees and just being out in the wilderness. Being able to drink in the awe-inspiring freedom of nature while enjoying a delightfully crafted brew that pulls all of it perfectly into a liquid is a good way to cover each of the five senses. This is one for those who take time to appreciate their life and all the wonder present in the little things, even if that little thing happens to be the Grand Canyon.
3.1 Pours a brown/copper, with a small beige head. Aroma of oak, brown sugar, and some sweet chocolate, which comes out as 8-4-1 warms. Medium body, with flavors of caramel, oak, and a soft sweetness. Overall, very drinkable, not as complex as I was thinking.
4.0 Bottle: Pours a nice caramel ruby color with a nice white head. The nose is dry and dusty from the oak with a nice sweet sappy dose of hops. Lots of caramel covered orange and pineish/grapefruit notes. The flavor is big and balanced, nice spicy dark malts, clean balanced and snappy hop bitterness and a rounded oak note that follows up the tail. Very well done for Redhook, I’m surprised at the complexity and overall nice malty mouthfeel.
3.9 650ml bottle from a local Family convienience store just south of my apartment ,Liberty Rd, Salem. $7.49 I see that this bottle is at least a year old..seeing as the ’blurb" says the shelf life is 365 days i am not hopeful! here goes anway Colour? Slightly ruby red accented brown small tan head. Fine aroma here. caramel, toffee, light hint of chocolate( dark),hazelnuts and a touch of floral hop. very complex. Tste is like the above but having some really nice smooth dark heather honey tones, a slight woddsy smoke and the hops turn up at the end and curiously blend well with the honey. I like. Very good palate to the beer. Very surprised..this has held up well under the harsh lighting. A nice beer.
3.5 22 oz. bottle shared by Tmoney99. Pours a clear copper color with a small off white ring. The aroma has dark fruits, sweet caramel malt, vanilla and some alcohol. The flavor has sweet caramel, vanilla, woody, with a moderate bitterness. Finish is on the dry side, woody and somewhat bitter. This was a bit better than expected.
3.6 como imperial definitivamente califica; como brown ale tambien. pero la combinación puede dejar un poco que desear. interesante pero mejores imperiales mas oscuras
3.4 Bottle from Vegas of unknown vintage. Pours a ruby, mahogany color with a small off-white head and a little lacing. Pretty big, hoppy aroma with some caramel malt and sugar at the end. The smoke and chocolate start off the flavor and the hops pop up again in the finish. Really no note of the 9.5ABV until the very last taste. You know, not bad at all.
3.5 Brownish color. Aroma has toffee, hops, light cocoa, banana and booze. Flavor has banana, light toffee and some hop bite. Ok.
3.8 Bottle: Dark bronze pour with a finger of creamy beige head. Sweet nose of citrus and malts, light bready/rye note. Sweet and hoppy taste up front with citrus and florals. Dries out with more florals and more the the bready rye. Finished with a lingering sweet citrus and caramel taste. Very nice.
3.5 Murky medium brown body with a fleeting off-white head. Rich caramel malt aroma with a touch of alcohol. Smooth, sweet malty with a hint of chocolate.
3.6 Bottle. Pours an amber body with an off white head. Caramel, toffee, molasses. Oak y with perfume notes, and fresh hop tones. A mild fruity warming, with vanilla and oak notes. Hints of coco and a hoppy sweet warmth to boot. A bit messy but okay.
3.5 Appearance: rich mahogany hues with a khaki head. Head fades to film, thicker along the edges, while swirls produce nice foam and lace. Nose: soft oak and spice tickle and tease; cinnamon sticks. Raisins and raisin bread dipped in rum and coated in a thin layer of molasses. Red apple skins in the back with faint fleshy meat sweetness. Wood gently pervades her entire essence. Rummy caramelized sweetness never cloys. Vanilla wafts on by. Balanced and interchangeable. Palate: nice soft and slightly frothy mouthfeel. Top of tongue dries almost immediately creating that constant thirst I know and love. Sticky dry lips mix oak, molasses, and cinnamon to my smacking delight. Apples, plums, raisins mingle atop raisin bread. Bitterness of apple skins linger atop the back of my tongue. Spice in my breath, warmth in my chest. Delicate chocolate notes almost escape notice; chocolate dipped raisins, homemade. Rum spices mingle with wood mingle with vanilla and melted caramel atop red apples, skins included, while raisins dance and her bread sops it all up for my quaffing enjoyment. Final Thoughts: Red Hook’s standard line of brews has yet to impress me. Where they do impress though is their line of 22oz bomber seasonals and special releases. A quality wood aged beer I would gladly savor again and again.
3.7 Clear light brown pour, not much head. Aroma was quite hop forward, light sweet malt, some caramel, maybe some vanilla too. Pleasing. Sweet malts were dominant in the beginning, vanilla, a decent oak presence, floral hops and a light bitter finish. Quite well rounded. Carbonation was light to medium, body full and smooth. Oaky finish with a touch of booze. These limited Redhook’s are damn good.
3.5 Minimal oaky aroma.... Ruby brown in color... Flavor is oak and slightly bourbon, notes of honey, alcohol is fairly prevalent... Not bad...
3.5 22 ounce bottle thanks to someone at the Christmas tasting. I stole this bottle basically- thanks to someone. A light reddish brown color with a tan head. The aroma and flavor is rich caramel, earthy, hot, some smoke, interesting.
3.6 Copper with off white head and lace. Sweet caramel malt and light abv. Sweet caramel malt, brown sugar, and a good bitter. Medium bodied but fizzy.
3.7 Minimal head of fine bubbles that dissipates quickly. Nice hoppy and sweet malts aroma witha bit of apricot and some caramel. Color is a cloudy crimson brown. Much more bitter flavor that I expected. Quite dry and a bit chalky and astringent. Dry malts, bitter tea leaves and some roasted grains. Lots of floral hops. Noticable alcohol presence and warming. A pretty good but very hoppy brew.
3.4 Bomber from Bottle Barn. Nose is toffee, candi sugar sweetness, light vanilla, and yeast. Clear dark red with a small beige head. Flavor is caramel, malty light sweetness, and some bitterness.
3.8 THOUGHTS: The beer had a lot of great components, I’m just not sure how well they all worked together. Hid the alcohol until the finish. It became less appealing as time went by. I would love to try the individual beers that mad up this beer, because there were hints at greatness, but they only poked through the muck. It was ever changing. It wound up being almost a Black IPA. TECHNICAL: Bottle. Poured a clear, dark red that looked orangey in the light and brown in the glass with beautiful carbonation and a large, foamy head that mostly diminished and left fair lacing. The aroma had light caramel; lighter roasted malt; heavy pine, citrus and orange hops; and brown sugar. The initial flavor was sweet, slightly acidic and slightly bitter; while the finish was heavily sweet and heavily bitter with a long duration. There was milk chocolate, pine hops, dark chocolate, spruce hops, roasted malt, orange, yeasty, caramel, dried apricot, citrus hops and resinous hops. Very nice balance. The medium to full body was a bit syrupy, but actually rather creamy with lightly fizzy and tingly carbonation and a metallic and moderately alcoholic finish.
3.0 Bottle:   Copper, reddish hue, moderate to thin off-white head, spotty lacing.   Sweet sticky nose, very slight tootsie roll, also smidgen of salty licorice.   Sweet, malty, and a little mealy up front.   Dark pitted fruit is there, tiz minor.   Has a bit of a chalky aftertaste.   Warming, with some diluted tootsie roll like flavors.   As it warms it gets some sort of perfume like phenolic aroma.   Seems like a light Doppelbock crossed with a watery Barley Wine.   Body and mouthfeel are both moderate.   While not bad, its not all that interesting.
2.9 (22oz bottle). Pours dark amber with slight off-white head. Not much carbonation visible. Aroma of smoke, cherry, candied sugar, cooked banana. Taste is fairly bitter with a pronounced smoke and woody flavor. Medium bodied with oily texture. Finish is bitter and very dry. Some sweetness is coming in more as it warms, but this beer is unbalanced to me and has some rough edges and it’s quite hot. Not a fan.
3.8 Dark brown brown pour with a thick off white head. Malty, toffee aroma with great earthy hops. Smooth malt, caramel, dusty earthy hops in the taste. Very clean finish with caramel hints.
3.3 Bottle. Head is initially average sized, frothy, light brown, mostly lasting. Body is medium to dark amber. Aroma is moderately malty (caramel), lightly to moderately hoppy (apricot), with notes of candy, corn syrup, dried pineapple, orange peel, alcohol, paint. Flavor is heavily sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, moderately bitter. Medium body, watery/velvety texture, lively carbonation, moderately alcoholic. Strong/boozy, but not without some aromatic enticement. Ultimately a little generic, but pretty good for Redhook.
3.8 Beer pours a rich red brown with a thick head of tan fine bubbles. Nose is mild floral hops and maybe some caramel malt. A hint of alcohol sweetness is also evident. First sip is creamy and only slightly sweet malt. Dryer than anticipated. creamy body. Faint bitters on finish. nice warming kick from the alcohol.
3.1 Pours a wispy golden brown with decent foam. Smells strongly of oaky wood. Tastes primarily woody with hints of whiskey and has a good hoppy flavor. Long lasting bitter aftertastes due to both hops and aging.
4.1 Bottle sampled at the Top of the Hops Beer Festival, Charlottesville, VA, 9/11/10. Pours a lightly hazy copper color with a thin head. Decent head retention and lacing. Aroma of anise, big toffee notes, citrus, caramel and brown sugar. The taste is caramel, toffee, citrus hops, anise and an earthy finish. Medium bodied. Quite a nice beer.
2.9 22oz bottle Thanks suttree @PreJam Gathering-pours a tan head and amber color. Aroma is medium malt-peat/molasses, secondary earthy hops. Taste is medium malt-peat/molasses, secondary wood/earthy hops.
3.7 Bottle. Copper pour with a short, beige head. Aroma is hoppy, malty and lightly smoky. First taste is chewy, sweet malt, then caramel, followed by citrusy and piney hops and lastly smokey notes. Then comes light wood, soft vanilla, and light honey. Body is medium with a chewy feel and a moderate carbonation. Finishes with smoldering wood, caramel, light vanilla, citrus notes, pine resins, sweet malt and light honey.