Houndstooth Irish Red Ale

It’d been a while since I placed an order from the folks at Eastbound Brewing Co., but checking their website in December showed a couple of new offerings that I wanted to try, including Houndstooth Irish Red Ale. The 5.1% ale comes in 355mL cans. The beer is bronze and pours with a decent covering of creamy head.

Houndstooth has an aroma that touches on caramel, copper, and roasted malt. The flavour starts sweet and bready and ends with caramel and ferrous notes.

Eastbound’s take on the classic Irish style is a pretty solid effort.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Celebrating Sisters Rouge Pale Ale

 Celebrating Sisters Rouge Pale Ale is a red pale ale brewed in Toronto at Great Lakes Brewery as part of The Indigenous Brew Crew and Do Better. Be Better’s Celebrating Sisters initiative with $1 per 473mL can going to Indigenous organizations that support Indigenous women. The label is a gorgeous one, designed by Chief Lady Bird. The beer is a 5.1% ale. It’s copper-brown and pours with a modest off-white head.

CSRPA incorporates both wheat and oats. It has a rusty, bready, malt-driven aroma. The flavour, too, is pleasantly metallic. It’s a toasty, malty little number, with some caramel sweet and light hempen bitterness.

I had eight of these beauties, and frankly, it wasn’t enough. I love red ale hybrids, and this one was lovely. A bit more strength might have been nice, though.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Inn O’Sláinte

An Irish red ale from Waterloo, Ontario, Inn O’Sláinte is built by Innocente Brewing Company. It’s a 5.2% alcohol, 18 IBU brew sold in 473mL cans.

Inn O’Sláinte is a coppery ale that pours with a hearty cream-coloured head. Its tinny aroma has brown sugar and caramel notes on a bready base. The flavour has a metallic crackle, surrounded by rich caramel and nicely toasted malts. The beer closes out with a modestly bitter and considerably coppery finish.

For an Irish-style red ale from Waterloo, Inn O’Sláinte has some pretty fair chops. It has adequate strength, considerable flavour, and a sassy look. I’d definitely buy this little ale again.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Love Fuzz

According to the copy on the 473mL can of Love Fuzz, a red pale ale from Toronto’s Black Oak Brewing Co., the brew is a triple-hopped number, that uses Legacy, Simcoe, and Galaxy hops. The beer clocks in at a healthy 6.2%. It pours with a gnarly walnut-red hue and a hefty dose of durable sudsy cream head.

Love Fuzz has a nose that blends metallic, malty, and fruit-focused notes. Its flavour has classic red ale notes of copper and malt, but features hoppy pine and spruce clanging alongside some fruity notes, and the faintest hint of light roast coffee and a whisper of rye spice. The can told me to expect blueberry, which I might not have noticed without some guidance, but the citrus notes described were an easy flavour to pick up.

The can claims that Love Fuzz was a gold medal winner at the Canadian Brewing Awards, and one can tell why. This weird hybrid style is executed with a precision that makes you wonder why it isn’t more prevalent. Robustly flavourful, with the best of many worlds, I found Love Fuzz to be a breath of fresh air and a bang-up brewski. My biggest concern is that it won’t be regularly available at the shops maintained by my government-run beer barons. Black Oak—please keep this one coming!

Rating: 9.5 out of 10.

Red Sunset Irish Ale

By way of Collingwood, Ontario, and delivered to me via my brother, the unsinkable R.A.N., was a 500mL bottle of Red Sunset Irish Ale. Put together by Northwinds Brewery, this Irish red ale clocks in at 5.6% alcohol and 31 IBUs.

A hazy, deep ruby number, Red Sunset pours with a tight fog of creamy head. The beer has a mild metallic and malt nose. Its flavour is packed with sweet caramel notes, balanced against toasty malts and a grainy, unexpectedly bitter finish.

Well made, but not exactly special, Red Sunset is an enjoyable bottle of beer. Coppery, malty, and nice; this was a fine effort from an Ontario brewery that I haven’t heard much about, but will definitely be keeping an eye on. Although hops and bitterness aren’t staples of Irish reds, I’d have enjoyed this one a bit more if there had been a bit more IBU emphasis.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Crimzen Premium Red Ale

Crimzen Premium Red Ale finds its home in Toronto, Ontario. An English-style ale, it's brewed by the folks at Lost Craft Beer and contains 4.7% alcohol. The 473mL can is austere, but not inelegant, with a white and red colour scheme.

The beer inside is a shiny copper hue. It's clear and pours with a decent cap of off-white head. For aromatics, the ale has metallic and malty leanings, with a drizzle of caramel. It tastes as it smells, with lots of malty, bready notes, a coppery clang, and some burnt caramel. The finish picks up IBU steam, delivering a surprisingly hoppy, quick finale.

I didn't know what to expect from Crimzen. After all, the name annoyed the piss out of me, but I'm always keen to try a local red ale. In the result, I was quite glad to have picked a can up, and can easily see myself doing so again and again in the months ahead. It's really a nice little pint o'beer. If they got the percentage up over five, this might well have gotten an even higher grade.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Doc Perdue's Bobcat West Coast Red Ale

According to the legend set out on 473mL cans of Doc Perdue's Bobcat West Coast Red Ale, the eponymous doctor was the veterinarian in Blythe, Ontario in the latter decades of the 19th Century. The man had a fondness for drink that once manifested itself in his returning to a watering hole, after having been cut off, with an ornery bobcat, and threatening to unleash it on the proprietors if he were not promptly served his preferred libation. Local colour--I love it!

Doc Perdue comes from Blythe Brewing & Distilling Inc. (seemingly also known as Cowbell Brewing Co.) It's a 5.5% alcohol red ale that hazily pours ruddy copper, with a thick, cream-toned head. At just 30 IBUs, the "West Coast" in the name had me fearing that Blythe and Co. might be a bit of a liberty.

Dr. Perdue is an ale with a healthy nose comprised of citrus notes and roasted malts. Its flavour is similarly situated, with a modest twist of lime and grapefruit, settled comfortably atop a malty base. Had I not seen it in print, I'd never have believed that this brew had just 30 IBUs--it gives the impression of a much more bitter offering.

All told, I found this flavourful red ale to be quite solid. In fact, it had a slightly spicy note that almost made me think it was a rye ale. I've tried (and enjoyed) Absent Landlord from the same brewer, but I found that Doc Perdue was a considerably stronger offering from a brewery that is now well on my radar.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Gray Stone Red Ale

On Boxing Day, 2016, I made my first stop at Gray Stone Brewing, a cozy new beersmith in downtown Fredericton, NB. Gray Stone sells their beer in "crowlers", 946mL oil drum cans that are equivalent to almost three bottles of beer. If you're lucky, you can even see them fill the crowlers right before your eyes. In many respects, this format is vastly more efficient than growlers, since the cans are properly sealed and will last much longer than the cap on an average commercial growler.

Anyhow, I picked up a handful of beers in this format. One of which, Gray Stone Red Ale, was recommended to me by the pleasant lad working behind the bar. At 4.5% and 25 IBUs, a little of this little red won't get you pickled (or at least it won't get me pickled), but its got some flavour to it. The beer was clear and copper, with a fairly thin foam of eggshell head. Its aroma was malt-driven, bready, and caramel encrusted. The flavour headed in a similar direction, with a malt focus and some gentle caramel notes. There was a tinge of floral hops waiting in the wings to close the curtain on this beer, though not enough to hold my attention for long.

For its weight in alcohol, Gray Stone Red had some heft to it. However, it should be said that it'd have been a stronger competitor with a bit more oomph and a corresponding increase in mouthfeel and finish. Still, it was a good introduction to a new brewery, and more than good enough to ensure I'll be back.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.

Red Devil

Red Devil hails from Simcoe, Ontario, where it's brewed by The Blue Elephant Brewing Company. It's an auburn ale with 5.1% alcohol and a handsome appearance--ruddy brown, clear, and covered with an eggshell head. According to the 473mL can, "Local tastes better", which is a sentiment I can usually get behind.

The beer has a malty scent, with notes of butterscotch and sweet grains. Sweeter than most auburn ales, Red Devil keeps up the aggressive butterscotch elements through the flavour, along with roasted malt notes. There is little by way of bitterness to keep things balanced, but fortunately the flavour is agreeable.

This beer had a lot to its benefit, but ultimately, it was too sweet. I was also mindful that the butterscotch taste might be the product of diacetyl. It looked pretty and tasted fine, but I won't be rushing back to Simcoe for another can anytime soon.

Rating: 6.0 out of 10.

Red Coat Canadian Red Ale

London, Ontario is the hometown of Forked River Brewing Co., and the birthplace of their Red Coat Canadian Red Ale. A strong ale at pleasant 6.2% alcohol, Red Coat is sold in 500mL bottles. The beer within is a clear, copper red. It pours with a loose foam of cream head. Malty, well roasted, and metallic were the terms that popped into my mind when sniffing the stuff. The mouthfeel in this one was a bit of a mixed bag--initially quite thin and flimsy, but nicely salvaged by a chunkily bitter back end. The flavour tracked the nose quite well, with roasty, malty and ferrous notes, along with a pretty decent hops presence.

Red Coat is a fine red ale. A bit stronger and more bitter than average, but balanced against a somewhat underwhelming primary mouthfeel. Like other Forked River beers I've sipped, Red Coat is a nice specimen that does the City of London proud.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Red Rage

A gift from the charming and rhythmic N.G., Red Rage is a red ale from the wilds of Calgary, Alberta. This pretty red ale is nearly clear and pours with a modest measure of creamy head. The 355mL can claims that the beer is named in honour of "the undocumented, freakish strength possessed by gingers," but I don't really care--what interests me is the beer. At 5.6%, this product of the Tool Shed Brewing Company is on the verge of qualifying as a strong ale (it even says so on the can), but I'm not willing to go that far.

Red Rage has a surprisingly potent nose that is rich with malty and metallic notes, as well as an understated sweet fruit feel. The beer also tastes stronger than I expected, with a heavy malt profile taking the helm, backed by a sturdy crew of subtler elements: iron, raisin, and even a touch of bitterness.

Full-bodied and flavourful, Red Rage has a lot going for it. The other side of the equation is that the beer is a little lacking in nuance and texture. A good enough red ale, though, and one I'd gladly revisit on occasion.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10.

Nosferatu Imperial Red Ale

Being known to your friends and family as a beer geek has its advantages. My recent natal day was spent hosting a beer and cheese party and receiving numerous beery gifts. One of these, flipped my way by the unsinkable M.T., was Nosferatu Imperial Red Ale, brewed by Cleveland's own Great Lakes Brewing Co. At a spine-tingling 8% and 70 IBUs, these strong red ale wasn't fooling around. Sold in 12oz bottles with a menacing vampiric label, this beer poured with a healthy, ruddy hue and a less than lustrous cream head. In my dark backyard, the stuff looked ominous, but held to a light, it was actually quite a luminous ruby ale.

Nosferatu had a warm, metallic aroma with some sweet fruity and malty notes. That's how the taste started out, too, before veering alarmingly toward bitter and hoptastic. From the nose, I was unsure how this beer could possibly contain such a high percentage and bitterness rating, but that was quickly made apparent with my first sip. While less bombastic than a double IPA or other hop monsters, this stuff had some life to it.

Despite the wicked handle, Nosferatu Imperial Red Ale proved to be a refined villain, more suave than evil. I found it very enjoyable. A bit more emphasis on the malty front end to match the scent would have been nice, but this was an otherwise outstanding brew.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Vulcan Ale

Vulcan Ale comes from Calgary, Alberta's Pluto's Moon Beer Co. This beer contains a reasonable 5.4% alcohol, 33 IBUs, and comes in 473mL cans that make a solid commitment to the Star Trek theme. I took part in a joint review of this Irish Red Ale with my pal Ryan.

According to Ryan, a beer drinker of few words, the nose had a crisp, fresh lightness. There was a solid onset with a weak finish. He called it the kind of beer that you'd drink on a hot day.

My own take was that there was a malt-driven aroma, with rich notes of caramel, brown sugar, and biscuit. It had a very smooth texture and a round, malty flavour. There was considerable sweetness, cloaked in caramel, and a touch of breadiness. The finish kept up the breadiness, and also had a faint dusting of hops edge. This wasn't a bad brew, but other than the odd Vulcan packaging, it wasn't particularly memorable.  Also, the label declares this stuff to be "mind-melding good". Why not "mind-meldingly good"?

Rating: Ryan--7.0 out of 10, Stout Man--7.0 out of 10

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Gahan Island Red

From Canada's smallest province comes Gahan Island Red Premium Red Ale. This stuff is brewed by the PEI Brewing Company out of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. This clear, copper-coloured ale contains 5.4% alcohol and comes in a 500mL bottle. It pours with a quickly thinning off-white head.

There are mild caramel and malt aromatics, as well as a measure of hops looming in the background. The flavour kicks off with subtly sweet burnt toffee, which is subsumed by a modestly hoppy finish. There is also a slight metallic flavour and a bit of breadiness.

This is a nice, modestly flavourful red ale off of P.E.I. If you see it, I say give it a whirl.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Kilannan New Zealand Red

I had an unmarked, stamped silver 473mL can of Kilannan Brewing Company's New Zealand Red at Tallboys Craft Beer House--one of Toronto's finest suds dispensaries. The NZ Red contains 5.4% alcohol and comes from Owen Sound, Ontario.

 

It's a murky, ruddy ale that poured with a thick, but quickly fading off white head. Lovely brown sugar aroma is malty and has a gentle hop tinge. A surprisingly effervescent mouthfeel made for a nice surprise. Its flavour is sweetish, with a touch of ginger, brown sugar, and some latent but not insignificant hops towards the end.

This was a nice little beer from a brewery I'd previously never heard of and am now very fascinated by. I'd definitely recommend it. A touch more rambunctiousness in the flavour wouldn't go amiss though. I like my reds to be a tad more free wheelin'.

8.0 out of 10

Red on Red Collaboration Ale

Red on Red Collaboration Ale is a project between Barrie, Ontario's Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery and Surrey, British Columbia's Central City Brewers + Distillers. The label on the 750mL bottle nicely marries the Monkeys' and Central City's emblems (a winged monkey and a woman on a bicycle). At a liver-rattling 9.5% alcohol and 80 IBUs, Red on Red is billed as an "Imperial Double-Red". There's a lot on the label about this being an "East Meets West" venture. As someone who comes from one of Canada's Atlantic provinces, I have to object to Ontario being referred to as Eastern Canada. The Maritimes and Newfoundland exist, you guys. And Quebec is huge!

It's a very attractive not-quite-clear ale that falls somewhere between ruby and amber. It pours with a thick and loose layer of tan head. There is a sweet and malty nose that has some copper notes and a vivid hops tail.

This ale is definitely a slow sipper that tastes every bit as forte as its 9.5%. It moves from sweet, warm, and slightly metallic to fiercely bitter hops 'n' booze.

This stuff is easily the most substantial, full-bodied red ale that I've ever sampled. If you're into strong and bitter, but tired of Imperial I.P.A.s, Red to Red provides a really excellent alternative. I haven't got a single bad thing to say about this brute, except that it appears to have been a one time deal. Really excellent work from two strong Canadian breweries.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10.

Bob's Bearded Red Ale

Walking home from dinner with some pals, my wife and I got caught in a deluge. Instead of walking home in the rain like suckers, we opted to duck into a local pub for a drink. We went to Opera Bob's, a great little place around the corner from our apartment. On tap, they had Bob's Bearded Red Ale, which is brewed by Toronto's Mill Street Brewery.

B.B.R.A. made for a very attractive pint. It's a reasonably clear brew with a nice amber hue and tpped with an extremely dense cream head. It has a pub ale aroma of malt and copper and a satisfying, creamy mouthfeel. There's a classic malt to bitter flavour profile.  There's some caramel and breadiness at the front end, and a respectably bitter finish and some nuttiness in the finish.

I found Bob's Bearded Red to be an unmemorable beer, but an enjoyable one all the same. Its creamy mouthfeel is definitely the best feature.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.

Dinner Jacket O'Red IPA

Dinner Jacket O'Red IPA is a dapper, well-dressed ale brewed by Arch Brewing Co., out of Guelph, Ontario. It's sold in 473mL cans, weighs in at 6.3% alcohol, and contains a stalwart 60 IBUs. The can raves about the virtues of a dinner jacket--an opinion that I wholly endorse.

It's a snazzy coppor-coloured brew. It's clear and pours with a loose, off-white head. Dinner Jacket has a tangy, hop-driven aroma; one that has a slightly metallic bent and a malty backbone. There is some malt focus early on, with some brown sugar notes. However, the real story behind this beer is its fulsome hop profile. This red India pale is strikingly dry and bitter. There are some evergreen notes and a nice understated blast of citrus rind.

If I had my way, Dinner Jacket would have a wee bit less sweetness at the front end, but the finish is just right. I really enjoyed the stuff, and I'll be sure to revisit it, as well as to keep an eye out for more offerings from Arch.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Fire and Blood Red Ale

Back in April, I reviewed Iron Throne Blonde Ale in honour of the season four premier of HBO's utterly excellent and thrilling Game of Thrones. Today, I'm book-ending that post with a review of Fire and Blood Red Ale in honour of the GoT season finale tomorrow night.  Fire and Blood comes from Brewery Ommegang's Game of Thrones beer series. It's a Belgian-style red ale brewed in Cooperstown, New York. Sold in corked 750mL bottles, Fire and Blood features the image of a dragon on the label. It clocks in at 6.8% and, according to the label, is brewed with ancho chilies, and also uses rye and spelt malt.

The ruddy brown grog is very cloudy, surprisingly lively in the carbonation department, and pours with an endless, loose, off-white head. The nose is malty, but also considerably peppery, with some satisfying hops elements off in the distance. The flavour is big on yeast and malt in the early going. The rear guard has a reliably dry hop presence and some spice imparted by the chilies and the rye.  Actually, I found the chili notes to be admirably restrained--they don't colour everything about this beer, but provide a favourable uptick of heat on the aroma and on the back end.

Fire and Blood Red Ale is not the type of beer that I'd trot out on a regular basis, but it does make for an interesting occasional treat.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Gypsy Tears Ruby Ale

Gypsy Tears Ruby Ale is perhaps not the world's most culturally sensitive beer name. Similarly, its label, adorned with a buxom woman weeping a blood red tear, isn't exactly politically correct. Frankly, I found the branding objectionable. I wouldn't complain if Vancouver, British Columbia's Parallel 49 Brewing Company, the makers of this brew, opted for a re-brand.

As for the beer itself, it contains 6% alcohol and checks in at a burly 40 IBUs. It is sold in 341mL bottles (I had two as part of a variety pack). It pours a hazy amber colour, topped with an off-white head. Its rich malt aroma has sweet notes of brown sugar and a slight bitter twist. It is a very flavourful nectar. It begins with a heavy bill of malt before giving way to a hoppier-than-expected finish. There are caramel notes which round out the malty body into an appealing shape. The finish nicely compliments the malt, rather than trying to compete with it. And at 6%, there is enough oomph to keep my liver happy.

This is a really tasty brew. It's not totally memorable, but it is definitely well-executed. If it weren't for the disagreeable branding, I wouldn't have much to complain about at all.

Rating: 8 out of 10.