Ruby Ale
McNeill's Brewery
- From:
- McNeill's Brewery
- Vermont, United States
- Style:
- American Amber / Red Ale
- ABV:
- 5.7%
- Score:
- 81
- Avg:
- 3.55 | pDev: 12.96%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 57
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jun 23, 2017
- Added:
- Sep 13, 2001
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
SCORE
81
Good
81
Good
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by BostonHops from Massachusetts
3.38/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.38/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
22oz bottle served in a pint glass.
freshness info: states that the beer is best before the last day of the month notched, which in this case is september.
as has been noted by other reviewers, the label is completely different from the picture in the beer's profile, with the new one depicting a genie and genie lamps... which is good, because nothing puts me in the mood for a hoppy amber ale like Aladdin.
pours a slightly cloudy dull medium-amber tone while yielding a huge, billowing, 3" + head that fades at a slow to moderate rate, leaving lots of lacing behind. hoppy characters are a bit faded in the nose. seems the beer has fallen off a bit, despite being a month from the 'best before' date. good dose of toasty malts.
flavor, thankfully, is an improvement, with the hoppy presence more perceivable here. some citrus and pine, along with the toasted maltiness that was evident in the aroma. medium bodied in the mouth with average carbonation.
overall a decent beer. i think i caught in right at the precipice of it's decent, so there's little doubt i'd have a better take with a fresh sample.
(originally reviewed: 08-23-2011)
Jun 20, 2012freshness info: states that the beer is best before the last day of the month notched, which in this case is september.
as has been noted by other reviewers, the label is completely different from the picture in the beer's profile, with the new one depicting a genie and genie lamps... which is good, because nothing puts me in the mood for a hoppy amber ale like Aladdin.
pours a slightly cloudy dull medium-amber tone while yielding a huge, billowing, 3" + head that fades at a slow to moderate rate, leaving lots of lacing behind. hoppy characters are a bit faded in the nose. seems the beer has fallen off a bit, despite being a month from the 'best before' date. good dose of toasty malts.
flavor, thankfully, is an improvement, with the hoppy presence more perceivable here. some citrus and pine, along with the toasted maltiness that was evident in the aroma. medium bodied in the mouth with average carbonation.
overall a decent beer. i think i caught in right at the precipice of it's decent, so there's little doubt i'd have a better take with a fresh sample.
(originally reviewed: 08-23-2011)
Reviewed by mvanaskie13 from Pennsylvania
2.62/5 rDev -26.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
2.62/5 rDev -26.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Opened the bottle and had to run to the sink to save the beer, and it kept gushing! Let it set 15 minutes...
poured into a fluted glass, color is amber head is thick and weird up top; translucent.
Smell is mild caramel flavors with a nice hoppiness that is piney, earthy.
Taste is somewhat bland then really bitter; flavor is lightly biscuity but overtaken by the spicy, earthy bitterhops.
Mouthfeel is to bitter for an amber ale, presents strongly on the tongue and doesn't let go.
Overall, very dissapointing brew, odd mixture of flavors and scents for an amber and 1/4 of it ended up on my floor.
Jan 16, 2012poured into a fluted glass, color is amber head is thick and weird up top; translucent.
Smell is mild caramel flavors with a nice hoppiness that is piney, earthy.
Taste is somewhat bland then really bitter; flavor is lightly biscuity but overtaken by the spicy, earthy bitterhops.
Mouthfeel is to bitter for an amber ale, presents strongly on the tongue and doesn't let go.
Overall, very dissapointing brew, odd mixture of flavors and scents for an amber and 1/4 of it ended up on my floor.
Reviewed by corby112 from Pennsylvania
3.14/5 rDev -11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
3.14/5 rDev -11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Pours a dark golden ruby color with bright red edges and a two finger frothy light beige head. Very good retention, only slowly fading into a lasting cap that coats the glass with streaks of soapy lacing.
Floral hop aroma with earthy notes that are countered by a sweet malt backbone. Hints of earthy pine needle and subtle citrus balanced by hints of sweet rye and caramel as well as some biscuit and toast.
Medium bodied and similar to the aroma with a slightly stronger hop presence. Earthy and floral up front while only being slightly bitter. Kind of dry with the hop flavor lingering over the sweet malt backbone into a slight dry finish. Subtle earthy pine flavor followed by caramel, rye and biscuit. Session able but kind of bland.
Oct 23, 2011Floral hop aroma with earthy notes that are countered by a sweet malt backbone. Hints of earthy pine needle and subtle citrus balanced by hints of sweet rye and caramel as well as some biscuit and toast.
Medium bodied and similar to the aroma with a slightly stronger hop presence. Earthy and floral up front while only being slightly bitter. Kind of dry with the hop flavor lingering over the sweet malt backbone into a slight dry finish. Subtle earthy pine flavor followed by caramel, rye and biscuit. Session able but kind of bland.
Reviewed by DoreenAndDave from Maine
3.53/5 rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Beer is a hazy amber with a very thick cream-colored head. Smell is bready and yeasty with some hints of hops. Taste is good, but not amazing. Malt up front with a pleasant bitter finish. Not a lot of depth or nuance, but solid. Mouthfeel is fine; it seems a little more carbonated than perhaps is necessary. Overall, I would rate this as good but not great. The bottle I had was a month past its best-by date. I suspect this would be better if a little fresher.
Aug 29, 2011
Reviewed by perrymarcus from Massachusetts
3.43/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.43/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
22oz bottle served in a pint glass.
freshness info: states that the beer is best before the last day of the month notched, which in this case is september.
as has been noted by other reviewers, the label is completely different from the picture in the beer's profile, with the new one depicting a genie and genie lamps... which is good, because nothing puts me in the mood for a hoppy amber ale like Aladdin.
pours a slightly cloudy dull medium-amber tone while yielding a huge, billowing, 3" + head that fades at a slow to moderate rate, leaving lots of lacing behind.
hoppy characters are a bit faded in the nose. seems the beer has fallen off a bit, despite being a month from the 'best before' date. good dose of toasty malts.
flavor, thankfully, is an improvement, with the hoppy presence more perceivable here. some citrus and pine, along with the toasted maltiness that was evident in the aroma. medium bodied in the mouth with average carbonation.
overall a decent beer. i think i caught in right at the precipice of it's decent, so there's little doubt i'd have a better take with a fresh sample.
Aug 23, 2011freshness info: states that the beer is best before the last day of the month notched, which in this case is september.
as has been noted by other reviewers, the label is completely different from the picture in the beer's profile, with the new one depicting a genie and genie lamps... which is good, because nothing puts me in the mood for a hoppy amber ale like Aladdin.
pours a slightly cloudy dull medium-amber tone while yielding a huge, billowing, 3" + head that fades at a slow to moderate rate, leaving lots of lacing behind.
hoppy characters are a bit faded in the nose. seems the beer has fallen off a bit, despite being a month from the 'best before' date. good dose of toasty malts.
flavor, thankfully, is an improvement, with the hoppy presence more perceivable here. some citrus and pine, along with the toasted maltiness that was evident in the aroma. medium bodied in the mouth with average carbonation.
overall a decent beer. i think i caught in right at the precipice of it's decent, so there's little doubt i'd have a better take with a fresh sample.
Reviewed by jondeelee from Massachusetts
3.38/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.38/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Ruby Ale starts off with a relatively light nose, composed of roughly equal parts hops and malts. The latter brings toasted grain and roasted nut aromas, and the latter imparts a faint grapefruity note.
On the tongue, the beer has far more to present, beginning with a nice malty smack that brings pecan, toasted cereal, and faint hints of chocolate malt, all mixed with a good brown sugary sweetness. Halfway through the mouthful the hops kick in, bringing grapefruit and pine flavors to the mix. The aftertaste is largely bitter hops and toasted nuts, lingering on the tongue and stinging the soft palate for a good while. Mouthfeel is medium, and carbonation is medium to medium-high.
Overall, this is a good ruby ale, well-balanced and nicely nuanced to offer most everyone a flavor or two that they'll find appealing. If anything, it could offer a few more fruit flavors--some apricot would have mixed in nicely with the cereal and nuts--but as it is, it's still a good beverage.
Aug 03, 2011On the tongue, the beer has far more to present, beginning with a nice malty smack that brings pecan, toasted cereal, and faint hints of chocolate malt, all mixed with a good brown sugary sweetness. Halfway through the mouthful the hops kick in, bringing grapefruit and pine flavors to the mix. The aftertaste is largely bitter hops and toasted nuts, lingering on the tongue and stinging the soft palate for a good while. Mouthfeel is medium, and carbonation is medium to medium-high.
Overall, this is a good ruby ale, well-balanced and nicely nuanced to offer most everyone a flavor or two that they'll find appealing. If anything, it could offer a few more fruit flavors--some apricot would have mixed in nicely with the cereal and nuts--but as it is, it's still a good beverage.
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