Raccoon Red Ale
Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery

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From:
Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery
 
United States
Style:
American Amber / Red Ale
ABV:
5.9%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.7 | pDev: 11.08%
Reviews:
11
Ratings:
21
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 02, 2019
Added:
Aug 23, 2004
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
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Ratings by Geoffq:
Photo of Geoffq
Rated by Geoffq from California

4.14/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

May 11, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.5 by scaliasux from Wisconsin

Mar 02, 2019
Photo of Lucular
Reviewed by Lucular from Maryland

3.35/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.25
The description calls this an ESB with American hops. It was on cask and while the aroma and flavor were decent, it was served too warm and flat. Disappointing since a good cask ale can be lovely.
Jan 10, 2019
 
Rated: 4.02 by atesus from California

Oct 20, 2018
 
Rated: 3.69 by BerryKumquat from California

Oct 17, 2018
 
Rated: 3.53 by Drknight from Virginia

Jul 03, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by whit_knee_41 from Indiana

Dec 14, 2016
 
Rated: 3.59 by Boone757 from Virginia

Feb 22, 2016
Photo of rjd722
Reviewed by rjd722 from Maryland

2.98/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
On tap at Bethesda RB, tapped on 11/27.

Look: Light amber, minimal off-white head and lacing.

Aroma: Bready malts and very slight citrus.

Taste: Faint caramel malts, wheat, and a slight floral hoppy character.

Feel: The initial burst of hops/malt is well balanced but it gives way to a less pleasant, harsh bitterness. Medium carbonation.
Dec 31, 2015
 
Rated: 2.75 by Peter_Marinelli from California

Nov 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Bloodeclipse from Indiana

Nov 21, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by DRTBrewster from Arizona

May 23, 2013
Photo of MonkeymooTJ
Reviewed by MonkeymooTJ from California

3.88/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance:

Pure amber red that gives off an orange glow when held to the light. A thin, one finger head dissolves quickly

Smell:

Bready malts with a slight toasted characteristic is apparent. A twinge of spice is also evident, but to a much lesser extent.

Taste:

A toasty warmth is noticeable up front as are the caramel malts. A slight spicy bitterness can also be detected

Mouthfeel:

A light to medium body with a good amount of carbonation. Leaves a fairly pleasant bitterness in the aftertaste that is neither overwhelming or overpowering.

Overall:

A well balanced beer. An initial, almost overbearing malty scent is evened out nicely with a subtle hoppiness that gives off just the right amount of bitterness. I would say that it fits the red ale category nicely and is worth picking up.
Jun 25, 2011
Photo of Rootdog316
Reviewed by Rootdog316 from Virginia

3.64/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Clear orange pour with a thin white head. The aroma has a touch of dark, roasted caramel, sweeter caramel, and an earthy touch. Malty-sweet flavor with caramel and toffee, and just a touch of earthy hop flavor and bitterness that doesn't quite balance. Medium bodied with smooth carbonation. Sweet, relatively clean, and displaying a pretty English malt and hop profile, though the yeast seems pretty neutral.
Mar 28, 2011
Photo of Thorpe429
Reviewed by Thorpe429 from Illinois

3.97/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Reviewed from notes. On tap at the Rock Bottom in Bethesda, MD.

Pours a nice amber color with a single-finger head and a bit of lacing. The nose brings some good citrus notes and a bit of an earthy character along with some moderate malt characteristics. Moderate bready flavor and some orange and lemon flavors. A bit of earthiness. Medium body with good drinkability.
Oct 24, 2010
Photo of drabmuh
Reviewed by drabmuh from Maryland

3.98/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
This is listed as 5.5% and an ESB which is a way better descriptor of it than "Red Ale". I guess its their fault for calling it a red ale but lets get serious people. Beer is served in a shaker pint. Its red and clear forms a tight white head of really small bubbles that completely coats the glass.

The aroma pretty hoppy, lots of crystal character in this beer.

Beer is mildly malty with a medium body, a very smooth beer. Mild roasted malt character in the back palate kind of surprises me. Its pretty good. Drinkability is high, and that's what they are going for.
Jul 13, 2010
Photo of Huhzubendah
Reviewed by Huhzubendah from District of Columbia

3.93/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Hazy sunburst beer with a thick crafted white head that seems to be everlasting. Faint aromas of hops, slight sourness, subtle malt. The beer has a light bitterness. It is slightly hoppy and overall, balanced pretty well. This beer excels in the mouthfeel and drinkability categories , as do many beers served on cask. There is a dry bitterness in the aftertaste that lasts for a while between sips. This is a solid beer and pretty easy to drink.
May 15, 2010
Photo of GFSchwab
Reviewed by GFSchwab from New York

4.03/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I really liked this beer for one specific angle that I believe they used.

They had a very low gravity for this beer, and with the low alcohol, a bigger spotlight was but on the nuances of the malt and hops, with the bite of the alcohol being almost non existent.

A rich roasted malty front gives way to a medium, well balanced hop flavor with a faint bitterness on the way out.

The taste of dark crystal malts and American citrus-rich hops linger long after.

Medium body, very light, yet somewhat layered flavor.

Definitely a really good, sessionable beer
Aug 26, 2008
Photo of TheSarge
Reviewed by TheSarge from Virginia

3.93/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
My Raccoon Red came to me with a nearly pure white, moderately frothy head. As expected the body of this brew was a dark amber, but had slightly golden highlights. A little bit hazy, too.

Raccoon Red gives off a floral fragrance, not piney or grassy; however, the hops gives off most of the aroma. There is a slight sweetness from the malt to the aroma.

After taking my first good sip, I can tell you this is one of the best balanced beers I've had in a while. The hops and malt complement each other very well. Initially the taste is fruity and is dominated by the hops, but soon after the sweet malt kicks in.

This is very drinkable, and a surprise. Raccoon Red is a nicely balanced brew.

TheSarge
Jun 26, 2006
Photo of jaluria
Reviewed by jaluria from Connecticut

4.42/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Picked up a growler of this before the start of the weekend and shared it with a few people and they really enjoyed it.
Poured a copper color with some orange/rust hues and an off-white head that was thick and aromatic. A bit of lacing was left behind in my pint glass. Moderate level of carbonation; large bubbles streaming to the surface for most of the session. Describing this beer as being aromatic is an understatement. I held my glass to my nose for a good minute before I even thought of tasting it. Lovely floral aromas along with freshly cut grass, pine, hops, and sweet grains. The taste was quite balanced with a slight edge towards hops. Sweet and bitter with a medium finish and spicey undertones that added depth and freshness. Soft and continuous is how I can best describe this beer in my mouth. The carbonation added an explosive character to the beer which was very nice. Being flavorful and yet light and airy gives this beer an incredible drinkability.
Feb 13, 2006
Raccoon Red Ale from Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 21 ratings