Category Archives: Red Ale

Strong Patrick – Beau’s All Natural Brewing

by Mike

From Beau’s All Natural Brewing in Vankleek Hill Ontario comes their “Strong Patrick” an Irish-style Red Ale.  The beer pours a deep copper colour with a beige head.  The aroma consists of mild roasted malts, caramel, hint of chocolate and sweetness.  The flavour is of chocolate, caramel, earth, mild roasted malts, hint of oak and whiskey and sweetness.  The alcohol content comes in at 6.7% with an IBU of 24.  Not all Irish-style Red Ales are made the same but this one is definitely a really enjoyable sipper.

Commercial Description:  Strong Patrick is a bold rendition of an Irish-style red ale. Brewed stronger than most, it is luscious and malty, with toasty caramel and coffee. A portion of the ale has been aged in Jameson® Irish Whiskey casks, then reintroduced to add a rich accent of wood and warmth to this year’s blend.

Food Pairing as per brewery:  Traditional style lamb stew, shepherd’s pie, firm goat cheese, warm corned beef with steamed root vegetables, gingerbread with applesauce, shortbread.

Renfrew Red Ale – Sooke Oceanside Brewery

by Mike

From Sooke Oceanside Brewery in Sooke on Vancouver Island comes their “Renfrew Red Ale”.  The beer pours a copper colour with a tan head.  The aroma consists of caramel, fruity with a floral finish.  The flavour is of caramel, mild roasted malts, resin, grassy, mild bitterness and some fruity notes.  The alcohol content comes in at 5.1%.  While fairly standard this is a good red ale and you will enjoy it.

Commercial Description:  Port Renfrew has many names. Some for love, as only the sea could be loved. Some for the ships she has taken, wrecked over rock and wave, where dangerous waters run red. This Red Ale is the namesake of that love and danger. I prefer to call her Renfrew.

Zombie Repellant Ale 2 (ZRA2) – Category 12 Brewing

by Mike

From Victoria’s Category 12 Brewing comes their “Zombie Repellant Ale 2″ or ZRA2.  This beer is their answer to the Pumpkin ale as they do not seem to like them.  The beer pours a deep copper colour with a tan head.  The aroma consists of caramel, toffee, dark fruity notes, candied sugar, earth and some floral hops.  The flavour is of Belgian yeast, spices, toffee, caramel, dark fruit, citrus, candied sugar, citrus rind, resin and some leafy hops.  The alcohol content comes in at 5.8% with an IBU of 24.  This Anti-Pumpkin beer is really tasty and I will have to get some more of it.

Commercial Description:   Our 2017 ZRA 2 is a Belgian-inspired red ale with a fruit forward aroma, full body and hints of spice from both our Belgian yeast and aromatic hop selections.  In the middle of the night, when all evidence of light has faded, that’s when they come. Be vigilant, be prepared. The throngs of pumpkin beer loving hoards can’t keep you from what you really want… Zombie Repellant Ale. Our ZRA will increase your resolve to fight through the zombie hoards.  Guaranteed to contain no pumpkin.

Seas Between Us Red IPA – Twa Dogs

by Mike

From Twa Dogs (Macaloney Brewers & Distillers) brewed at the Victoria Caledonian Brewery & Distillery comes their “Seas Between Us Red IPA”.  The beer pours a deep copper colour with a tan head.  The aroma consists of caramel, citrus, pine and floral hops.  The flavour is of caramel, resin, fruity citrus, pine, herbal and bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 7%.  I have not had a ton of beer from this brewery as of yet but this beer was an enjoyable one.

Red 5 – Hearthstone Brewery

by Mike

From Hearthstone Brewery in North Vancouver comes their “Red 5″ an American Red Ale.  The beer pours a deep reddish brown colour with a tan head.  The aroma consists of caramel, fruitiness and floral hops.  The flavour is of caramel, toffee, earth, some resin, mild fruit, herbal hops and bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 5.5% with an IBU of 78.  This is a refreshing Red Ale seasonal.

Commercial Description:  A full bodied red ale where the malt and hops battle it out creating a beautifully balanced brew. The force is strong with this one.

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