Red Ales

After a wonderful lunch courtesy of Restaurant Week at the River Cafe, I am home and anxious to taste two domestic red ales.
Hooker Irish Red Ale: Color-Dark brown; orange highlights Nose-Caramel First taste-Full mouth; fast fade Observations-Taste on flat side Fizziness-Rim head; few active bubbles Where Brewed? Saratoga Springs, NY (CT.) Rating-6
Lagunitas Imperial Red Ale: Color-Reddish orange Nose-Hoppy First taste-Strong hops taste; lingers Observations-Flavor intense Fizziness-Mild head; few bubbles Where brewed? Petaluma, Sonoma County, California Alc.#-7.2% Rating-7.25
Final Thought-Alcohol level evident in Lagunitas Red; intensity of taste prevented my rating from being higher than 7.25 (which was respectable). Hooker decidedly not as good!!!
Mike Komaroff BeerBaron