Ridge Runner
Rock Art Brewery

Ridge RunnerRidge Runner
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From:
Rock Art Brewery
 
Vermont, United States
Style:
English Barleywine
Ranked #185
ABV:
7.2%
Score:
79
Ranked #26,778
Avg:
3.44 | pDev: 15.99%
Reviews:
208
Ratings:
436
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 29, 2023
Added:
Aug 07, 2002
Wants:
  8
Gots:
  40
"Robust, Dark and Smooth, hold on to your hat cause you’ll lose your feet on this one!" Brewed with pale, dark crystal, Munich, flaked barley, black and chocolate malts. Hops include Cascade, Crystal, Challenger and Perle.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Nutleybeer:
Photo of Nutleybeer
Reviewed by Nutleybeer from New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Not your typical barleywine...somewhat darker in color, almost stout-like in appearance. Although, without the foamy head. Most barleywines will have a strong flavor, almost like a whiskey, this one was more mild. A smoother taste. Quite drinkable. A nice change of pace for the style.
Still high in alcohol content, but not as potent of a flavor of some of the others in the world of barleywines.
May 15, 2006
More User Ratings:
Photo of mvanaskie13
Reviewed by mvanaskie13 from Pennsylvania

3.96/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured into a wide mouth grip shaped goblet: color is amber, not quite transparent, head is very light tan and presents less than one finger thick, head dissipates to thin top, ring on the glass and some lacing on the glass sides.

Smell is clean, malty, lightly hopped - notes of toffee, caramel, light herbal and citrus notes.

Taste is similar - malty, notes of toffee, caramel and then hoppy notes of light citrus and herbal/tea like.

Mouthfeel is lower carbonation, moderate sweetness, low/moderate bitterness.

Overall a strong malty ale with moderate hopping - very drinkable in hybrid style execution.
Nov 29, 2023
 
Rated: 3 by LAM01833 from Massachusetts

Jul 31, 2022
 
Rated: 3.87 by swierczt from Connecticut

Jul 10, 2022
 
Rated: 2.46 by Stofko1992 from Pennsylvania

Aug 25, 2020
 
Rated: 3.5 by Velivolus1 from Vermont

Aug 03, 2020
 
Rated: 3.46 by Brushkanna from New Jersey

Feb 07, 2020
Photo of howardnss
Reviewed by howardnss from Pennsylvania

3.82/5  rDev +11%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Not considered by the brewery as a barley wine any longer because of the ABV. The brewery now calls this a bold Vermont ale instead of a barley wine.
Aug 31, 2019
Photo of m9b
Reviewed by m9b from Vermont

3.63/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
i liked reading these reviews but was initially disappointed by the ok rating (as it is my drink of choice) a few key points to rehash - unfiltered (good) bold (good) vermont ale is the cans self descriptor. Also good is the only 9.99 asking price per 4 pk. So its 7.2 and in a 4 pack 27 ibu but still hopped yes they mention malts and it comes to mind in the pour. I saw one reviewer mentioning this beer being not the experience itself but i do feel the need to mention mine in Ridge runners acquisition. So i wanted rock art and the beer "king" only had the maple wheat. Another big store had everything but (its far away ie not walking distance) so the third option was the only one to have this and its a find at its price if you are looking for the brand which you may on occasion. No-one is touting this as a run out and get; but on a day that you do! :)
May 09, 2019
 
Rated: 4.33 by Jackjaffar from Massachusetts

Dec 02, 2018
 
Rated: 3.46 by KMcGrath from Massachusetts

Nov 28, 2018
 
Rated: 3.59 by edthehead from Maryland

Jul 20, 2018
Photo of Rlhj
Reviewed by Rlhj from New Hampshire

3.55/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
A weak barleywine. My can said "bold Vermont ale". I couldn't put my finger on it but it's more a weak, weak barleywine.

Good but not great. I'd drink it again but not seek it out.
Jun 29, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by AlvinLin from New York

Dec 28, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by Velivolus from Vermont

Dec 24, 2017
 
Rated: 3.8 by Duffman79 from Connecticut

Dec 04, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by yourmom123 from Massachusetts

Sep 26, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by von_kaiser from Connecticut

Aug 22, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by JLK7299 from North Carolina

Aug 18, 2017
Photo of argock
Reviewed by argock from Virginia

2.61/5  rDev -24.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5
Poured from a 12 oz brown btottle into a clear glass snifter. Bottled on Jun 28 2015 is my guess (no date) but could easily be earlier (see below).

A: Very clear amber with 1 finger beige head with decent retention and a few spots of lacing.

S: A weird chemical rum raisin extract kind of aroma leapt from the glass with a bit of light caramel and weird grassiness.

T: Flavor is poor to start with and gets worse with each sip. No caramel really to speak of with a bunch of cardboard and weird vegetable flavors. They need some oxygen control as this beer should hold up and is 3 years old at most. Little other flavors come through. No infection flavors per se but tons of oxidation.

M: Super thin and carbonation is medium.

O: Maybe a bad bottle but won't try again.
Jul 31, 2017
Ridge Runner from Rock Art Brewery
Beer rating: 79 out of 100 with 436 ratings