Renegade Red Ale
Yellowstone Valley Brewing Co.

Renegade Red AleRenegade Red Ale
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From:
Yellowstone Valley Brewing Co.
 
Montana, United States
Style:
Irish Red Ale
ABV:
5.9%
Score:
81
Avg:
3.49 | pDev: 16.33%
Reviews:
22
Ratings:
30
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 01, 2019
Added:
Aug 26, 2002
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
The Renegade is a malty extra special bitter ale, ruby red in color, and hopped to balance malt and suite the style.

Like its namesake, the beer comes on with a bold sweetness, has a smooth full body feel, and a finish that snares the palate.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by loren01:
Photo of loren01
Reviewed by loren01 from Washington

3.35/5  rDev -4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours from bottle into my Yellowstone Valley pint glass. Dark mahogany colored cloudy beer. Small amount of head with decent lacing down the glass. Smell is very much malty and sweet, also some cinammon spiciness to it. This beer is somewhat heavier bodied than most reds I've had before. Taste is also very sweet like honey and toffee with a very slight hop bite at the end. Overall this is a very good session brew, it is good from the bottle but I've had much better from the taproom.
Aug 25, 2005
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.5 by Kolb from Montana

May 01, 2019
 
Rated: 3.59 by irate_alien from Virginia

Mar 02, 2018
 
Rated: 3.71 by casapy from Idaho

Jul 24, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by a77cj7 from South Dakota

Apr 28, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by elglueckert from Montana

Dec 21, 2014
Photo of BrewtalHonesty
Rated by BrewtalHonesty from Oregon

4/5  rDev +14.6%
Malty sweet & slightly spicy
Aug 25, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Eric908 from South Dakota

Jul 31, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by j-rod18 from North Dakota

Jan 13, 2013
Photo of Kindsdaddy
Reviewed by Kindsdaddy from Montana

4.57/5  rDev +30.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Pouring up this beer reveals a reddish caramel color with a very light head. The aroma is soft and mouth watering, just giving off hints of what you are about to enjoy. It has a mild and short lived aftertaste. This is a caramel malt beer, one that you want pull out to impress your refined friends or if you are like me, will just keep it all to myself since this is one of the better beers I have had in a long time.
Jan 21, 2009
Photo of BuckeyeNation
Reviewed by BuckeyeNation from Iowa

2.59/5  rDev -25.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Bronzed dark orange with bright tangerine trim. The pastel gold cap fills half the glass after a standard pour and is in no hurry to depart. It eventually slathers the glass with an impressive amount of Swiss cheese lace. Given the malt bill, I'm not surprised that Renegade Red is so dark (for an ESB). This is a good looking beer.

The nose isn't very ESB-like because it's malt-dominant. A non-hoppy ale that uses chocolate malt may be Yellowstone Valley's idea of an ESB, but it isn't mine. I'll reserve final judgment until I've tasted it, but it doesn't look like style adherence will be this beer's strong suit. Oh yeah, the nose is metallic too.

The flavor profile is muddled, and that's being kind. Caramel mochachino, brown bread toast and Granny Smith apples don't add up to anything that's even remotely close to the stated style. Even if I ignore what it's supposed to be and weigh in on what it is... Renegade Red isn't good beer.

I like the idea of using Magnum and East Kent Goldings hops in an ESB, but the reality is that nothing other than a moderate amount of bitterness is appreciated. This bottle may have seen better days, so that could be a factor as well. However, since I haven't been thrilled with my previous three beers from these guys, I doubt this one would have knocked my socks off when fresh.

The mouthfeel is probably a smidgen closer to light than to medium, but the beer doesn't even maintain that modest standard throughout the entire mouthful. Simply put, it's watery prior to and during the swallow.

I had my doubts after reading the list of ingredients, but then one never knows. Renegade Red Ale isn't good beer no matter what style one chooses to assign. I got through the bottle with a minimum of annoyance, but I have no desire to drink another. Not even if it's free.
May 13, 2007
Photo of BadRockBeer
Reviewed by BadRockBeer from Colorado

4.17/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Serving Type Sampled: 12 fl. oz. brown crown top bottle. No features, nice pictures.

Appearance: Amber to nutty brown in color. Very mild chill haze. Decent 1 finger head that faded into a dence lace.

Smell: Quite malty with an underlying spice. Almost has a white wine nose.

Taste: Yum….very soft malt. Caramel and toffee. I also taste a little butterscotch. The bitters come a little later. They to are mild and pleasant. Fairly spicy hops really complement the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium in body, light carbonation. Silky and smooth. Kind of chewy.

Drinkability: Very good. I have really taken a liking to this beer. I received this beer from a co-worker who was working in Billings and stopped by the tasting room. He tells me that all of their beers are excellent! I have to believe that he is right. This on is great. Nice job.
Apr 17, 2007
Photo of mnfinnkidd
Reviewed by mnfinnkidd from Minnesota

2.88/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Poured a dark hued red with 1/4" white head. No lacing down the side. Aroma is sweet. Very similar to a strayberry yogurt. The aroma carries over to the taste. Very sweet with little hop backing. Good balance in the mouthfeel. This brew is something that I could have one of but not two in a row....
Dec 13, 2006
Photo of brewQ
Reviewed by brewQ from Missouri

3.5/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
An opaque red/brown brew. Malty scent with fruit and spice in the nose ... an ESB??

Tastes of roasted malt. Interesting, though not sure what the style/aim is.

Almost comes up just short of porter character with a hint of ...pepper?

Quirky but up my alley.
Sep 28, 2006
Photo of Gagnonsux
Reviewed by Gagnonsux from Texas

3.15/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Renegade Red is a hazy crimson with a small, light brown head. Aroma is sweet with a strong contingent of caramel malt. Taste is more caramel malt, sweet, and on the sugary side. An unwanted hint of yeasty sourness is noted in sips from beer at the bottom of the pint glass. This is decent, but needs more muscle and changes need to be made to restrain the sweetness.
Jul 10, 2006
Photo of geexploitation
Reviewed by geexploitation from Indiana

3.92/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a dingy amber with minimal head. Not much to look at. Nose of cider apples, baking spices and earthy hops. Big apple taste along with the malts; the hop bitterness and hop flavors are dialed back, making this more of a session beer. Mouthfeel is medium all around -- carbonation, body, everything. Overall this is a decent session beer.
Jun 11, 2006
Photo of jhammerly
Reviewed by jhammerly from Nebraska

3.11/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Thanks to loren01 for sending me this.

Pours a dark copper, similar to iced tea, with a nice sized head that has a short lifespan.

Smell of some cinnamon-like spices and sweet maltiness.

Tastes about the same as it smells with some honey like notes that add to the mix. A very slight hop presence.

A medium bodied ale that has good carbonation and would be a good beer to session, as well as compliment a variety of foods. Not an outstanding beer, but one that I could drink every now and then.
May 02, 2006
Photo of russpowell
Reviewed by russpowell from Arkansas

3.94/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours copper to light red with a tightly ringed 1" deep white head that drops off like crazy. Zero lacing and and head retention

Smell: some pronounced fruitiness

Taste: Fruiity with slight grainyness & sweetness, some nuty notes as well on the finish, this gained flavor as it got warmer

MF: More malt would be required for perfec balance & under carbonated

Pretty drinkable, but this beer's quality has been hit & miss here in the bottle, so I can only imagine how wild the Q swing is on the east coast or down south. try with a sckeptical (sp??) eye....
Mar 15, 2006
Photo of pweis909
Reviewed by pweis909 from Wisconsin

2.82/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Twelve oz. bottle.

A -Giant Foam Monster atop amber-red liquid. The foam is slightly tawny. The size of the foam is a bit silly, and it lasted quite a while. There was coppery sediment in the bottom (which I don't mind, but that foam is unnecessary).

S- sweet and malty.

T-sweet malty. just a little bit of biscuity flavor keeps this from being one-dimensional. nothing to say about hops other than they are barely sufficient to keep the caramel malt from being cloying.

M-Very heavy-bodied. Too much, I think for an ESB, as it claims to be. Really, a distraction. Given the body and the foam, I'm thinking too much Cara-Pils or other crystal/carmel malts, maybe?

This is not a beer I will likely buy again. The excess body puts me off, and the caramel malt is overkill. It's categorized as an ESB. I'm no certified beer judge, but I think the caramel and the body are not in style.
Jan 25, 2006
Photo of GClarkage
Reviewed by GClarkage from California

3.47/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
07/01/05- Purchased at Osco Drugs in Billings, MT.

Presentation- 12oz bottle with no dating. Poured into my Reaper pint glass.

Appearance- More brown than amber pour with a tiny bit of murk. Bits of tiny sediment towards the bottom. Very small head and no lacing whatsoever.

Smell- Mostly a sweet malt here with maybe a wee bit o' hops.

Taste- A bit heavy on the malt side at first, but then the lightly bitter hops kick in. A bit sweet at fist and maybe a touch of caramel and a tiny bit of roasted flavor.

Mouthfeel- Average carbonation.

Drinkability- Not sure it this is a true ESB or not. But, either way, it's perfectly drinkable.
Jul 01, 2005
Renegade Red Ale from Yellowstone Valley Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 30 ratings