Infra-Red Ale
The Brew Keeper

12 oz. bottle with a crude computer generated white label of an Infrared picture of a city by a river. The picture is so bad that I have no idea what city it is. I'm 100% positive that it isn't North Ridgeville. To the left of the label is the ABV of 4.25% and the Brew Keeper address. On the far right of the label is a description of the beer and the Government warning. Date on the bottle? You have to be joking! The Brew Keeper usually never puts a date on the bottle.

When poured into a Southern Tier pint glass, this beer was a dark and hazy cranberry red color. I thought at first it was a crimson red, but when I looked again, I found out it was more of a cranberry red. Sitting on top was a fluffy cream colored 3/4 of an inch head of foam. This head of foam had great retention that left behind a thick cream colored film and a few small streaks and blots of lace. This is one of the better appearances from a Brew Keeper beer.

The aroma was way off for any style of beer. Well, it smelled off only when it was swirled around. If not swirled, it was lightly toasted with toasted malts and with a subtle whiff of citrus hops and raspberries backing it up. When it was swirled around, the yeast in the beer made the raspberries smell rotten and the scent of vomit emerged from the background. Whatever you do, do not swirl this beer around and then stick your nose in it. It won't make you vomit, but it will make your head turn in disgust.

It's a good thing that the taste wanted nothing to do with the vomiting aroma. The taste was crispy and toasted with toasted malts, a splash of milk chocolate, a hint of raspberry, and then it finishes up with a subtle citrus hop bite. It was a little different. I'm just glad that it didn't taste like it smelled in the second part of the aroma.

This was a light bodied beer with a heavy dose of carbonation and a slightly toasted aftertaste. This aftertaste was filled with toasted malts, a touch of raspberry, and a minor citrus hop bite at the end. It helps that you don't get attached to the aftertaste because it won't stick around for very long.

If it wasn't for the second half of the aroma, this would have been a better beer. The label said that it was brewed in the Irish tradition, but I know for a fact that the Irish can brew a better beer with an aroma that will not turn your head in disgust. Other than the aroma, Infra-Red is another affordable good tasting beer from the Brew Keeper.

Live review. Poured from a 22 oz. bomber into my Murphy's Irish Red pint glass. Purchased for $5.99 at Reider's Market in Painesville about 2 months ago. No observed "best by" or "freshness date" found by me on label or the bottle. 4.25% ABV

A A nice mahogany/red body that glows in front of direct light under a medium/light brown head. Very appropriate to the style. I especially like the "redness" of the body. Very satisfying color. Creamy heads sticks around for several minutes too. Fair to good lacing as well.

S Medium malt, familiar to all ambers/red ales. Not much else to the nose though.

T Nice medium malt and a nice woodsy smokiness that makes the taste smooth, a really welcome quality to a beer of this style. I really appreciate that!

M Again, the welcomed smoothness enhances this beer. It makes it "go down easy" which, in turn, helps the drinkability.

D Good, again thanks to the medium malt and smooth feel.

Notes: One of my two favorite from the Brew Keeper (along with Hop Infusion) to date.