Packaged to grip as a hand grenade, Ruddles’ flat-topped wide-mouth bottle is truly unique. Rich sienna-hued ale given proper English-styled hop bitterness, hitching emphatic smoked wood chips to heavy malt extract and dank grain must. Canned version picks up metallic twang.
All posts by John Fortunato
RUDDLES COUNTY ENGLISH ALE
Smooth bronze-hazed English bitter offers winsome caramel malting, sweet barley-roasted thaw, buttered pecan respite, and moderate hop bitterness to crystalline clean-watered finish. Robust head never falters.
(ELDRIDGE POPE) ROYAL OAK PALE ALE
Original brew (now re-created worse by O’Hanlon’s) tosses an aromatic chocolate liqueur punch into the creamy mocha center, where correlative fruitcake jab reaches temperate brandy finish. Sly hop bitterness picks up nutmeg-berry riptide, sprucing up the corners for unique pale ale with abundant character.
ROYAL DUFFER GOLF SOCIETY PREMIUM LAGER
Toasted hops and moderate barleymalts combine for lager-like appeal. Orange rind and nectar add dimension to lingered bitter-grained finish. A reliable session beer.
(ROUND TABLE) KNIGHTS HEAD WHITE ALE
Candied yeast sweetens orange-fruited vanilla entry, zesty lemon-orange surge and clove-coriander-spiced banana merge. Mild dry-hopped bittering counters oncoming butterscotch splotch.
(ROUND TABLE) KNIGHTS HEAD LIGHT
Nebulous straw-hued light pilsner not as astringently corn-liquored as atrocious stateside foe, Iron City Light. Sugary malts, oily hops, and vegetal fringe cheapen idle popcorn finish.
(ROUND TABLE) KNIGHTS HEAD LAGER
Cardboard-y clear amber moderate body with aromatic barley-wheat pleasantry deepening up-front toasted malt sweetness. Murkily dank orange-peach fruiting undeveloped.
(ROLLING) ROCK GREEN LIGHT LAGER
Lighter, less obtrusively sour, low carbohydrate version of Rolling Rock Lager counters soft hop fizz with mildly skunked malts to cheap wheat finish. Not as dismal as clear pale-toned body suggests.
ROGUE YELLOW SNOW ALE
Puffy-headed, cloudy-hued, moderate-bodied ale (a.k.a. Rogue Juniper Pale Ale) featuring flirty juniper wisp and firm yeast foundation remains less bitter than brewers’ Dead Guy Ale. Sharp piney spruce tangent grazes grapefruit-lemon souring, residual herbal-nipped green tea slip and citric-splashed spice hop finish. Perfect for celebrating Christmas in July since darker fruited elements bring summertime aspirations.
ROGUE XS SMOKE ALE
Burnt wood chips, resinous hops, and mineral-grained sediment coalesce with silken barley sweetness above charcoal bittering. Beechwood malts punctuate smoky finish. For acquired tastes, since it packs a helluva punch. Great with fish or barbecue dinners.
ROGUE WILD IRISH ROGUE
Rich mocha persistence and mellow chocolate creaminess consume mud-thickened coffee-stained ebony ‘Wild Irish’ rogue (with the light brown head). Ashy tar-like residue and bitter charred hops counter silken oak dryness while excellent spring water provides lovely crisp vibrancy. Strong coffee-tinged aftertaste compares favorably to Guinness Stout (minus some bitterness).
ROGUE WHITE CRANE BITTER ALE
Easy drinkin’ copper-toned bitter (a.k.a. Rogue Oregon Golden Ale) receives polite spruce hop frontage and mild toasted barley continuance, settling into clean watered sweet malt finish. A fitting session beer for milder thirsts fluffing tardy honeyed wheat against concealed grapefruit-quince undertone.