Jack Russell Irish Red Ale

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

pleasant, but ultimately uninspired. a pleasant enough session beer, with all malt and almost no hop presence. good flavor, just not enough to get excited about.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 5

Well, just about the same time I was starting to think that this brewery can really do no great harm or wrong..., this one comes along. And while it's no secret that I've generally held "red" beers in disdain (e.g. "too sweet!"), I dislike this beer for far different and perhaps more disturbing reasons.

First off, what's with the color? A beer with a color of the spectrum in it's name (and intended style) sure better live up the billing, doncha' think? This is way too dark..., almost Porter-like.

Secondly, while I'm still fighting something of slight nagging cold, I tend to think that even a healthy individual would have a hard time picking out much from the aroma. Very nuetral and non-commital.

I kinda wish the same was true for the flavor and mouthfeel of this one, to be honest. Kinda syrupy and limp..., with the thinnish body showing off a weird Jolly Rancher/sour-apple aspect that is not right at all for this sort of beer. In fact, it's so obtuse, I would actually give it a few token points if I found such weirdness in a Farmhouse Saison or some sort of hybrid beer. But for a Irish Red Ale, or Porter, or whatever this is trying to be? Nope, don't think so home-boy....

I finished this off, but did not find it very enjoyable. Something was really off with this one...

Music: "RoadRunner United" Compilation
//TB

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Dark red color. Medium white foamy head. Aroma is caramel malt with a pronounced sour flavor. A medium bodied red/amber ale. Malts are nutty and sweet. Hops are slightly spicy. There is an overriding sourness to this beer that dominates everything else, and it spoils an otherwise nice sweet maltyness. Possibly an infection? Still drinkable. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and sour. Aftertaste is slightly bitter and a touch sourness

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Pours a dark brownish-amber color with a large head that dissipates rapidly. A little cloudy. Aroma is slightly light, and of sweet amber malts, balanced fairly well with the west-coast hop spiciness. Mouthfeel is full and smooth; just a little sticky. Flavor is definitely sweet and malty, with a slight bitterness just in the finish. Malty and robust, reminds me of a strong amber ale. Highly drinkable, this beer goes down smooth like tea, albeit THICK SWEET tea. Overall, a very nice offering. This is the first beer I have sampled from this brewery, and I am impressed!