On tap, complex, yet approachable, red ale contrasts mildewed fungi acridity, mild hop-charred bittering and vinous cider sharpness against candi-sugared orange-oiled sour malting. Red-green apple tartness and teasing grapefruit-peach hunch backend ruddy-hazed moderate-bodied ‘bitter’ possibly better defined as Flemish Sour Ale. Further sips revealed pine-combed peach, pineapple and tangerine tang.
Tag Archives: red ale
TAPS RED ALE
NEW OLD LOMPOC PROLETARIAT RED ALE
Well balanced copper-hazed delight with tingly hop-spiced bittering countering barley-roasted caramel malting and candied apple sweetness. By midst, cinnamon-baked apple influence overrides peach-pear-orange fruiting as well as cocoa, tea, and honeysuckle illusions.
HOPPIN’ FROG OUTTA KILTER WEE HEAVY SCOTCH-STYLE RED ALE
MURPHY’S RED ALE
Sampled from breweries in Ireland and Holland without finding severe disparity (though Heineken’s version exudes firmer body), thin eggshell-headed malt-scented blue collar fodder retains overly familiar dry barley inefficiency and barest wood tones leading to mildly soured citric finish. Needs bitterer hop spice.
SARANAC IRISH RED ALE
Aromatic caramel-toffee sweetness disrupted by faded floral hop astringency that delicately fizzles out. Abbreviated toasted graining, muted mocha wisp, and blah orange-apple-peach tang barely inform ill-defined metallic finish.