Indian Red Head
Catawba Brewing Co.

 

 

 

 

Pours a deep red mahogany color with a thick soapy white head and a ton of lacing. Smells of malty malts and not much else. Tastes of caramel malts, and not much else either -- it is very one note. Mouthfeel is medium and has a strange oily feel as well. Drinkability is low because it has such a strange feel.

From a growler into a pint glass. Purchased this @ Bruisin' Ales (Asheville, NC). Into a pint glass.

Pours a brilliant clear amber with 1 1/2 fingers of foamy off-white head. Retains with a creamy 1/4 finger that flares up decently, leaving some big patches of foamy lacing back. The aroma is floral and a bit spicy with a thick underpining tang of fruity citrus and bread.

The taste is moderately bitter and balanced by a mix of citrus, caramel, and toasted malts. All of the right flavors are present but the overall profile just seems to peter out way too quickly in the mouth. The only remnants are some lightly bitter and roasty notes that linger in the mouth. The mouthfeel is lighter-medium bodied with a moderate creaminess to it, although it's feeling a touch thin at times.

This unfortunately was a bit underwhelming. I dug the flavors in this but a lack of presence in the taste and body ultimately hurt it. I'm not sure how long this was in the growler before purchasing it or if that could have potentially hurt the profile at all. I'd love to try this again on draft though to find out.

Had the pleasure of trying this one on tap for the first time this eveing. Served right from the tap into a pint glass at Mellow Mushroom. This one was consumed on 11/08/2008.

The pour was very nice, with a rich, red tinted amber taking form right off the bat. A decent amount of haze, gave way early and left a visibly well carbonated ale in front of me. A nice bit of head, maybe two fingers liked to hang out for a bit before falling back and leaving a naked top for all to see.

The aroma was loaded down with malt as one would imagine/. Nice tones of bread, and light grains that trickled in. Maybe a touch of some grassy hops as well. The flavor was decent. A nice touch of caramel malts opened the show and faded into a well rounded, and grain filled middle. Hints of a light fruit note, and a decent hop tint towards the finish, offering a decent bit of contrast. Medium bodied, with a smooth, almost effortless level of carbonation that was very easy to sip on this chilly fall night.

Overall not bad I would have to admit. A more then decent red ale, and a solid offering from a local brewer. I would have no issue at all with having this one again any day.

Hazy amber colored. Nice 2 finger head with some retention. Lasting lace.
Caramel and blue raspberry aroma. Interesting for the style.
Caramel malt flavors. Lightly hopped but still balanced. Hops become a little more prominate in the finish. I'd rather the hops come late than not come at all. Slightly acidic aftertaste.
Mouthfeel is true to the style. Medium bodied and smooth.
Easy to drink session ale.

This has been upstairs at Barley's for some time now and I've had it a few times. More on the red side with orange in the light. Fruit and malts with little hops evident in the smell. I enjoyed the taste of this. Great balance of malts and a small addition of hops along with the fruit undertones. Feels just about perfect to me and it's one that I could enjoy any day. Silky smooth.

Pint at Barley's

This beer poured a nice deep red with minimal a nice creamy head. The smell was good. The taste was nice for a red ale. One of the better beers of the style I have had. The mouthfeel was smooth with a semi-hoppy finish. The drinkability was good. I will drink this beer again.

Dark red with orange glowing around the edges.

Dark berries and some toasted malt coming through in the nose.

Tastes of toasted malt that is almost overpowering and unbearable.

Very thin and watery. Dissatisfying palate that is almost like bitter coffee.

I won't pick this one up again. Try for yourself but I don't recommend it.