Fairytale Red
Barrage Brewing Company

 

 

Poured into a becher pint glass, the appearance was a hazy deep amber color with a thin off-white head that lasted for a little bit and then as it fell some spotted lace ran here and there. The aroma had some slight caramel/toffee sweetness, just a touch of bready/cereal notes and then some citrusy sweet to bitter hops at the end. The flavor yields to the malts initially and then develops with the hops fairly nice, semi-sweet to slight bittersweetness. Lightly blended aftertaste and finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fair sessionability about it. Good carbonation. ABV felt fine. Overall, nicely done Irish red ale worthy of having again.

 

 

 

 

 

picked up a 32oz fill earlier in the day. i was excited to see this one back on the lines since i had neglected to get a fill of this in the past because it was pitched as the flagship beer. i always enjoyed samples of it when getting fills at the brewery, but the ticker in me took for granted that it would always be on the lines...and then it went away for a little while. i wasn't going to make that mistake again. enjoyed from a TB teku.

a - through the growler fairly dark, almost brown...but held to the light you can clearly see the ruby highlights. pours a bit lighter in the glass...deep ruby chestnut. thin creamy head with one massive tail of lacing that clung to the head and moved as a unit.

s - nose is really nice. carmelized malt with some nuttiness and a nice hop glazed over the top. touch of earthiness.

t/m - really well rounded red ale. i'm not normally wild about this style, but this is one of the most easy drinking and tasty reds. caramel nuttiness with a nice jolt of citric hops to keep you coming back for more. the medley of flavors may sound like it doesn't work, but somehow this beer pulls it all together and makes it work. finishes off with some earth to remind you that it is a red. some hints of brown sugar as well. great full body as well.

o - overall really well done red ale. if you get a chance to try it, give it a whirl you won't be disappointed.