Beer Review: Oskar Blues’ G’Knight Imperial Red

G’Knight Imperial Red, Oskar Blues Brewery, Lyons

Style: Imperial Red/Double IPA

ABV: 8.7 percent

Serving Type: 12-ounce can (only available now in 16-ounce cans)

Malty? Hoppy? This is not usually a problem with Colorado brews, but the malts are a little much.

Reviewed: September 2012

If there is one beer sure to spark controversy at 5280 it is Oskar Blues’ G’Knight. People love it or hate it. Even more are completely ambivalent about the matter. To help solve the debate, once and for all, several staffers sat down in September to do an official tasting.

If I wanted consensus, it quickly became apparent that wouldn’t happen. One staffer said the beer had a bread-y smell, like Fig Newtons. Another only picked up vague citrusy elements. One reviewer said it tasted lighter than they’d expected. Still another said that the mouthfeel was too thick.

Eventually, I stopped taking notes. Here’s my own opinion: G’Knight is not a beer for every one—or for every occasion. It’s viscous and vicious. It should be savored, not gulped, and you should plan on only drinking one can (at first). That will give you a chance to pick out the piney hop notes and the spicy orange flavors. Mainly, it will give you a chance to see the care that the Oskar Blues brewers took to create one HUGE beer with so many tiny parts.

Would we buy it again? Yes, if only because it always sparks conversations about beer.