Golden clouds of yeast residue obtrude formidable light-headed blonde. Pungent malts garnish tamped-down hops, smoked grains, and grapefruit dirge. Brewery defunct: 2007.
RED BANK GOLDEN PREMIUM LAGER
So commonplace it compares to processed Budweiser instead of Scotch-adorned Michelob and lacks advertised full-bodied inertia. Faint caramel malts mesh with musty barley sweetness and light hop fizz at fast fading watery finish. Too dull-indistinct to be a summery session brew yet easy to imbibe. Brewery defunct: 2002.
RED BANK DARK PREMIUM LAGER
Jersey microbrew made with German hops and malts too bland and processed to compete with serious Bavarian competition; lacking full-bodied depth and complexity. Initial unassuming aroma hides dirty grain core as fizzy carbonation overwhelms dark chocolate residue. Brewery defunct: 2002.
(MESTANSKY) REBEL ZOLIK
Pungent malted grains, grassy wheat, and sourdough yeast coalesce for strong musk-like alcohol astringency. Animated hops re-enforce grain barrier, embittering the coarsening finish quite well. Picture at www.crowncaps.org
(MESTANSKY) REBEL 2000 PROTI DROGAM
Despite limpid musty malt aroma and washed out lime finish, decent medium-bodied lager caresses mineral water discretion with earthy barley-wheat chaff, casual dry hop bitterness, and sourdough sinew for unassumingly strong rigidity.
(MESTANSKY) REBEL 12 DEGREE LAGER
Longer ‘lagered’ and more crystal malted than Rebel Pilsener, placing soft-grained wheat chaff above scant spiced hops to soapy mainstream finish. Strong alcohol pungency noticeable.
(MESTANSKY) REBEL OSMICKA
Another easy flowin’ Rebel brew (bottled for Svijanska Brewery). Pale yellow hue, fragrant hops, watery flow, and a nip of sour bread yeast consume billowy front end. Mild grain bitterness and light malt persistence soften skanky yeast finish reminiscent of Heineken. A pleasantly acquired taste.
(MESTANSKY) REBEL GARNET HALF-DARK BEER
Ashy-tongued maltose-scented dark lager gathers dirty grain penetration, dry raisin mandate, and flowery hop bitterness to silky pale chocolate finish. Recommended to brown ale or light porter fans, but also worthwhile for Bud/ Miller/ Coors lunkheads as effervescent upper crust alternative.
(MESTANSKY) REBEL CERNY DVANACTKA
Musty malt-scented, golden brown-hued, sweetly caramel-malted brew slips down the throat with gentle velvety smoothness. Mocha moderation fends off slender hop toasting, negligible barley roast and raspy coffee snip.
(MESTANSKY) REBEL BRILLIANT
Sinewy yeast sweetness and pungent malt-toasted grains enhance spicy citric adjuncts of moderately creamy lager. Bitter hops awaken caramelized orange midst of well-defined Czech. Would fit comfortably alongside assertive German Octoberfests.
(MESTANSKY) REBEL BOHEMIAN PILSNER
Musty malt aroma, mild burnt toast palate, and fizzy carbonation given firm grain foundation for easygoing mass appeal. Cereal-cornmeal sweetness contrasts silken hop acridity and chalky cocoa dryness, gaining more overall bitterness than comparative German competitors. Soft and watery enough to attract bourgeois middle American tastes without prohibiting heartier thirsts.
REAPER SLEIGHOR DOUBLE INDIA PALE ALE
Raspy in-your-face floral-spiced orange tang and brisk grapefruit bittering counter abrupt sugar candied sweetness of lusty 9% alcohol russet-hazed amber-glowed ale. Creamy malt finish subsumes black currant, hop-charred pine, and earthy resin.