Don’t let off-putting citrus-rotted cat urine waft prohibit imbibing pudgy brown-bottled rust-clouded moderate body. Dryly acetous mandarin orange, lemongrass, and green apple sourness swerves past honeyed sucrose malts and white peppered grassy hop pep. Medicinal backdrop underscores club soda flow.
All posts by John Fortunato
REGENBOOG GUIDO ALE
Well-rounded strong ale in stumpy brown bottle retains thick tan head, ruddily murky body, stewed prune waft, and raw honeyed dried fruiting. Initial mouth-puckering tannic grape tartness recedes as pronounced sour raisin theme flourishes above dehydrated fig, hard cider, and bruised cherry nuances. Candi-sugared yeast develops mildewed basement funk as floral-spiced herbs neutralize any backend acidity. At finish, port and bourbon illusions appear alongside unripe green raisin motif, adding to its great profile depth.
(REGENBOOG) VUUVE WHITE BEER
Warbly pale-toned white beer addled by unpersuasive orange peel dabble, distant clove-thyme straddle, and inconclusive spiced-hop babble. Spritzy carbonation nearly foils spicy adjuncts while remote mint finish dies out suddenly.
(ANHEUSER-BUSCH) RED WOLF RED LAGER
Thankfully, roasted cereal malts lead the way and distant fruited red ale leanings lack disruptive cloying nature sticky Budweiser gets mired in. Dry-hopped grain resilience overcomes bland macrobrew expectation, gaining depth as bottle drains.
RED STRIPE LAGER
Simple, soft-bodied, flat-headed pale lager in recognizable barrel-like brown bottle put Jamaica on beer map. Gentle barleymalt subtlety creases disturbingly sour lemon-limed backdrop. Grainy dirtiness differs substantially from most agave/ tequila-minded mass marketed Caribbean brews, putting it closer to a mustier, less cloying Budweiser.
(NECTAR ALES) RED NECTAR ALE
Inviting spruce waft stimulates tangy orange brightness, dainty berry sweetness, and dim peach-grapefruit-quince tartness complementing deep floral hop bittering.
REDNECK PREMIUM LAGER
Called the ‘taste of America,’ but merely an overly familiar alternative to slushy macrobrewed pilsners. Dismal, cloy, soapy golden brown lager lacks efficient carbonation and grain punch so only indiscriminant rednecks need apply. Brewery defunct: 2006.
RED MOUNTAIN RED ALE
Halfway decent malt-fruited ruddish-clouded ale insignificant amongst strong stylistic competition. Needs sharper barley-hop bite. Brewery defunct: 2001.
RED MOUNTAIN GOLDEN ALE
Label claims it’s Birmingham’s best beer, but unfortunately we’re talkin’ Alabama, not England. Despite flaxen hue, its wafting citric tartness, soured mocha depth, and rousing malted hop splotch position this between lightweight stout and tingly red ale. Unique in approach, though no dominant flavor emerges. Brewery defunct: 2001.
RED HOOK WINTERHOOK WINTER ALE
Aromatic chocolate malts consume robust barley-wheat insistence, secondary vanilla sweetness, and tertiary honey dab. Delicate, yet filling, winter ale allows flowery hop restiveness to enliven sweet and sour red-orange fruitiness mid-palate, but lacks spicy seasonal luster then stuck in a quandary when watery finish flounders.
RED HOOK TREBLEHOOK BARLEYWINE
Not-so ‘vigorously-hopped’ limited edition ’07 barleywine hides 9.8% alcohol thrust behind pleasing sweet Scotch frontage, IPA-like hop-embittered quince-apricot-cherry center, and syrupy malt usurpation. Candy apple glaze secures imminent floral-citric tang. Though thin-bodied, very approachable for lighter thirsts.
RED HOOK SUNRYE ALE
Sunny lemon-apricot splurge coats modest barley-rye sweetness, paltry wheat influence, and spiced hop bite for light-bodied off-dry spritzer. Fruity esters brighten summery finish as mild lemony tartness gains quiet bitterness.