Rochester Red
Rochester Mills Beer Co.

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From:
Rochester Mills Beer Co.
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
American Amber / Red Lager
Ranked #45
ABV:
6.3%
Score:
81
Ranked #25,602
Avg:
3.55 | pDev: 11.55%
Reviews:
16
Ratings:
115
Status:
Active
Rated:
Oct 19, 2023
Added:
Nov 10, 2002
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  33
This deep red colored English-style ale features a rich, malty flavor profile, medium body, and a low level of hop bitterness for a smooth, great tasting, easy to drink beer that pairs well with a wide range of popular food dishes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by StoutHunter:
Photo of StoutHunter
Reviewed by StoutHunter from Michigan

3.21/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
I picked up a can of Rochester Mills Rochester Red last week for $2.19 at The Lager Mill. I think I had this beer before at a beer festival, but I don't remember anything about it and i'm interested in revisiting it, so lets see how it goes. No visible canning date, but it just showed up so I think it's fairly fresh. Poured from a 16oz can into an imperial pint glass.

A- The can looks nice and it has a clean and classic look to it with lots of information to go with it. It poured a nice amber/red color that took on a nice ruby red hue when held to the light with a fingers worth of light tan head that died down to a thin ring that eventually faded away and left a little bit of spotty lacing behind. This is an ok looking beer, the color was nice but the head and lacing were a little disappointing.

S- The aroma starts off with a slightly higher medium amount of sweetness that had a slight brown sugar aroma to it and it was followed by loads of malts that impart some caramel malts and brown bread flavors with a pretty big dark fruit aroma with no one fruit sticking out the most and there were some more grainy aromas towards the end. The aroma was nice and full of malts, but it could of used some hops to bring some balance to the aroma.

T- The taste seems to be somewhat similar to the aroma and it starts off with a nice amount of medium sweetness followed by loads of malts that impart some caramel malts, brown bread, and grainy flavors with a real light roasted flavor. The dark fruits only barely show up. On the finish was a light amount of bitterness with a grainy and caramel malt like aftertaste. This beer was pretty average tasting, there were just some generic caramel malt flavors and not much else.

M- Smooth, a little crisp, on the lighter side of being medium bodied with a nice amount of medium carbonation. The mouthfeel was nice and it worked well with this beer.

Overall I wasn't impressed with this beer and I thought it was an average example of a red ale, there was pretty much no complexity too this beer and with no hops showing up the balance wasn't that good either. This beer had ok drinkability, it was smooth and not too filling, but the flavors didn't do a good job at holding my attention so one pint can is enough for me, I have no urge to drink another one after this. What I liked most about this beer was the mouthfeel, it was nice, the body was just were at should be and the carbonation was good too. What I liked the least about this beer was how bland the taste was, all I could pick up was a bland and generic caramel malt flavors with nothing else really shining through. I wouldn't buy this beer again, it's just too boring of a beer and I wouldn't recommend it to my friends, it had nothing that sets it apart for the style. All in all i was let down with this beer and it wasn't memorable. I like that Rochester Mills is getting their beer out to Michigan in 16oz cans but I have yet to be impressed with any of them, I'm still waiting to have a beer that I like from them. Better luck next time guys, this was one forgettable Red Ale.
Mar 01, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of RockEmBaby
Reviewed by RockEmBaby from Texas

4.23/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L - A nice reddish brown look, medium dark. Got this at a restaurant on draft, so not much head.
S - This beer has a real nice aroma to it. At first there’s a mild floral scent and then a kind of woody scent. (Maybe oak???)
T- Unlike a lot of other red lagers I’ve had in the past, this one doesn’t immediately hit you with that bold taste. Instead it starts off with a smooth sort of “ale” taste, and then it finishes with a British bitter taste. But it’s not too bitter, this beer is well balanced.
F - This beer has a real smooth light feel to it. Doesn’t seem real heavy like other red lagers.
O - Overall, this is a real nice beer. It’s the perfect compliment to a cold winter night in Michigan right by the fireplace. I highly recommend this beer.
Oct 19, 2023
Photo of NateTrooper7
Rated by NateTrooper7 from Michigan

3.26/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Bonding Moment Beer
May 05, 2023
 
Rated: 3.65 by RalphStanley34 from French Polynesia

Sep 22, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by n2492004 from Michigan

Dec 04, 2021
 
Rated: 3.55 by Meddwol from Michigan

Oct 27, 2021
 
Rated: 3.25 by -Andrew- from Michigan

Mar 29, 2021
 
Rated: 3.69 by Yendor61 from Michigan

Mar 21, 2020
 
Rated: 3.68 by blissfulNemo from Michigan

Nov 12, 2019
Photo of JimboBrews54
Reviewed by JimboBrews54 from Michigan

5/5  rDev +40.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I know Erik the Red is right up there, I must have a thing for reds. This is different than Erik because it is not as heavy, this could pull off being its lighter cousin. This is one that stays well balanced, this also is not as sweet and it sets well within the Rochester line up, you will also see this all over Metro Detroit beer menus because it has become that much of mainstay.
Oct 08, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by Rostie from Michigan

Feb 09, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by Jim67 from Michigan

Dec 22, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by jtransel from Illinois

Aug 10, 2017
Photo of lwillitz
Reviewed by lwillitz from Wisconsin

3.35/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
16-oz can into nonic pub glass

opens like a can of meat--the entire top comes off; weird

A - cloudy body of brown amber under a finger of light tan foam

S - caramel sweetness, a little nutty

T - bread, caramel, light grassy bitterness

M - medium body, medium/high carbonation

O - a decent red, nothing special
Apr 14, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by SaisonRichBiere from Michigan

Apr 10, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by Timc32 from Michigan

Mar 02, 2017
 
Rated: 3.9 by mschultz88 from Michigan

Feb 20, 2017
 
Rated: 3.88 by Jack74 from Michigan

May 19, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by GRG1313 from California

May 03, 2016
 
Rated: 3.33 by DaHood from Kentucky

Apr 23, 2016
Rochester Red from Rochester Mills Beer Co.
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 115 ratings