Legendary Red Ale
Golden City Brewery

Legendary Red AleLegendary Red Ale
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From:
Golden City Brewery
 
Colorado, United States
Style:
Altbier
Ranked #81
ABV:
5.4%
Score:
80
Ranked #26,373
Avg:
3.41 | pDev: 13.2%
Reviews:
17
Ratings:
43
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 27, 2022
Added:
Mar 27, 2005
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  7
Legend tells of a land dominated by a giant and in need of a true champion. A red-haired knight rose to the challenge, and faced great peril for the freedom of his people. To honor this illustrious valor and victories, a red ale was crafted.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Buh-eer:
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Rated by Buh-eer

1.75/5  rDev -48.7%

Jan 27, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of JZH1000
Reviewed by JZH1000 from Colorado

3.79/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Had on tap @ Greg's Kitchen & Taphouse

On arrival 1 finger of fine fluffy off white head with decent domage was present. Body is a bit darker than expected with a dark brownish burgundy hue. Lacing off the first sip.

Smell is big with sweet caramel malt and some light esters going on, but some noble hops and lager yeast character keep this crisp. Crafty but on style.

The taste follows the aroma, but the caramel malts are almost too big giving me more of a scotch ale vibe than altbier vibe. Still quite tasty and the bitterness balances nicely while keeping the malt in the spotlight.

Feel is full but drinkable with a dryness to it, bringing it back into altbier territory. By no means is this an armchair beer, but rather quite versatile. Finish is medium long and carbonation is fine and laid back.

Overall this is a great beer, but the BJCP might have some things to say about it, and if you expect pure German beer vibes, I'd look elsewhere. Very malty, but still balanced.
Nov 27, 2022
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Rated by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado

3.4/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
On-draught:

B- / WORTHY
Jan 05, 2022
Photo of nick_perry
Reviewed by nick_perry from North Carolina

3.52/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Red-brown color. Lot of rising bubbles. Slightly sweet malt. Piney, earthy hop profile. Sharp carbonation. Heavy feel. I think it’s overcarbonated, otherwise a tasty ale.
Oct 04, 2019
Photo of metter98
Reviewed by metter98 from New York

3.6/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Can at Freshcraft, Denver, CO

A: The beer is very hazy dark amber in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a quarter finger high off white head that quickly died down, leaving a narrow collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Light to moderate aromas of herbal and spicy hops and toasted malts are present in the nose.
T: The taste has flavors of herbal and spicy hops and notes of toasted malts.
M: It feels medium-bodied and clean on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer has a very good balance between the malts and hops.

Serving type: can
Aug 28, 2019
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Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky

3.73/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Misunderstood, underestimated and seldom replicated, the Altbier has the reputation of being a more simplified amber or red ale. Although the style is largely put together with the German versions of similar grains, hops and balance, its Western Europe sense of perfection, history and rusticity is noteworthy. That's what inspired Golden City Brewery going into this red Ale.

Those legendary statuses are exemplified in Legendary Red Ale by pouring a rusty amber brown. As a bloomy tan froth builds, its toasty scent carries a fine and herbal grassiness, hints of nutty sweetness and an overall woodsy character. Moderate sweetness of light honey and caramel glide across the early palate with a simple, fast fleeting sweetness.

Remnants of sweetness stay behind to welcome the taste of medium toast, pecan, faint coffee and fainter cocoa. As the ale trends spice and toasty, more of its sweetness evades and the late palate highlights the more earthy parts of the beer's toast character along with a balance of dried grasses, parsley and lemongrass with a dried pine spice.

Medium bodied and seemingly caught somewhere between American amber ale and classic Northern German altbier, the beer bridges the two styles nicely but ultimately doesn't do much to elevate either one. Sensible, drinkable and drying, the beer's demeanor is that of refreshment without giving up depth; perfect for a pairing of pizza and buffalo wings.
Jan 29, 2019
 
Rated: 3.69 by soze47 from Massachusetts

Jun 16, 2018
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Rated by jstevep00 from Colorado

2.34/5  rDev -31.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Had it in a can. Maybe the most bland red ale I've ever had. Unremarkable in every way.
Jul 15, 2017
 
Rated: 3.25 by Hopstout from Minnesota

Nov 14, 2016
 
Rated: 3.78 by Spaceman_Jer from Colorado

Feb 11, 2016
 
Rated: 3.73 by Blazer22 from Colorado

Nov 12, 2015
 
Rated: 3.86 by sporklift87 from Colorado

Oct 02, 2015
 
Rated: 3.43 by tylerstravis from Colorado

Sep 18, 2015
 
Rated: 3.25 by WDJersey from Colorado

Nov 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by MarkyMOD from Colorado

Sep 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by Haybeerman from Colorado

Aug 03, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by SalukiAlum from Colorado

Jul 03, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by afsdan from Colorado

Jun 05, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by Punisher from Missouri

May 26, 2014
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Reviewed by deleted_user_357747

3.98/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Legendary Red Ale has a very dark garnet hue, but sparkling clear, light loose head of white with tannish hues. Smell is pretty good; basic, slighty hopped malt toasted aromas, creamy caramel, very light smokey/oaky character. Tastes follows smell closely, some crips fruitiness, with a bit more of that magical black malt that really brings this beer altogether.

Very solid altbier, my first beer from GCB. Very impressed, will definitely keep this beer around as a great table red.
Apr 10, 2014
Legendary Red Ale from Golden City Brewery
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 43 ratings