Amber-hazed medium-bodied mediocrity’s initial astringency lifts for sweet barley-roasted simplicity and faint dry-fruited hopping. But distant honey-toasted caramel panache too indistinguishable for red ale significance.

Dry compost-wafted whiskey malts muddle sour orange fruiting, losing grapefruit rind bittering to skimpy candi-sugared butternut scamper. Dusted coffee-mocha acridity and earthen peat nuance fall short.

Pleasant barley sweetness meshes well with dapper fruity nuances, softly flowing through to mildly bitter butterscotch-etched finish. Well-balanced, medium-bodied, and tingly spice-hopped.

German-styled altbier slips tamped down hops across candied malt insistence for mild off dry nullity. Brewery defunct: 2007.

Heavily advertised Guinness-Bass amber ale alternate maintains frisky tan head and burnished copper hue. Chewy whiskey malt souring and wavered cocoa snip placated by toasted barley sweetness. Dry floral hop bitterness affects peated barnyard-hay earthiness and herbal tea hint. But medicinal ethanol surge at mannered caramelized apple finish is debatable.

Suspect opening salvo and overly streamlined appeal spoil Fred’s chances. Woody hops counter sweet-sour dried fruits (white grape-fig-date) and apricot-apple tang, but red ale styling is questionable. Any initial Scotch tinge falls off to lesser candied butterscotch scamper.

Stalled fruited malt opening, scant mocha sequel, and mellow dry coffee resin delicately embitter sullen earthy finish that fades fast.

Almond-toasted mocha-dried cornmeal flavor overrides moderate orange peel bittering. Richer than most red ales as its moderate nutty bitterness picks up considerable dry coffee souring by wood burnt finish.

Though lacking true fruited-hopped red ale essence, barley-roasted chocolate easement provides minor credibility for Irish-styled brew. While imbibing, reddish brown hue seems richer than expectant flavor. And that’s a shame. Needs thicker yeast sinew and denser malt extract. Brewery defunct: 2002.

Dry Irish-styled ale misnomer discounts peculiar sour cherry-peach pucker and orange blossom-grapefruit tartness. Overt fizz knocks back any sweet ‘red ale’ semblance as acridity builds, negatively affecting overall zest.

Well-built Flemish Red medium body lathers leathery sour cherry parch with unripe fig, oaken vanilla, and green grape souring. Tart vinegar-y white wine aridity subsumes brimstone treacle.

Spectacular slow sipping garnet-hued dessert ale alternates strong green apple waft and dry cherry nose above undeniable eye-squinting citric tartness. Lithe berry tang sweetens prominent vinous vermouth sourness, grape pulp mustiness, mild orange bittering, and rose’ wine illumination as strong soda-fizzed cherry essence receives oaken cask-aged seduction.