National Common
Red Hare Brewing Company

 

 

"National Common is our take on a turn-of-the-century-style "California Common". We proudly continue the tradition of this uniquely American beer by using grains and hops reminiscent of those available to brewers at the time. National Common is a collaboration brewed to perfectly complement the H&F Burger, and both are crafted with honest, quality ingredients, paying homage to a simpler time." Brewed in the style of a California Common beer. Available in 12 oz. canned 6 packs on on limited draft.

Poured from a 12 oz. can to a tulip glass.

(Appearance) Pours a foamy frothed golden-white head over a medium hazy sunset amber body with fine sediment and abundant, lively carbonation. Retention is good and lacing is light and patchy. 3.75

(Smell) Biscuity and light bread malt aromas with a fruity yeast nose of apricot, pear and light grape, clean and appropriate for the style. Potency is moderate. 3.75

(Taste) Bread and biscuit malt notes with an undertone of grain and a subtle, muted fruit profile, a bit more reserved than the aroma, with a more malt-driven flavor. Hop notes are slight, generating mild fruit and grass characters with a mild bitterness. Finishes clean and lightly dry. 3.5

(Mouthfeel) Texture is clean, smooth, medium dry. Carbonation is modest, generating a mild frothiness and a mellow crisp finish. Body is shy of medium for the style, shy of medium overall. Balance is slightly rich specialty grain with hoppy bitter over sweet. Alcohol presence is light and there are no off characters. 3.5

(Overall) A style that not too many breweries venture into often enough, the California Common beer generates a good bit more malt and yeast character than your standard lager. Red Hare's version does a pretty decent job of keeping in line with the style and produces a largely enjoyable beer, although the aroma was somewhat more appealing than the actual flavor, which was a bit more one-dimensional. National Common seems to be one of Red Hare's finer canned offerings in recent memory- unfortunately it seems that it may very well not stick around long enough to get proper exposure. 3.5

Red Hare Brewing Company's
National Common (With H&F Burger)
3.58/5.00

 

 

 

12 ounce can - $1.99 at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Appearance: Pours a clear, lightly ambery, lightly copper-toned body with an inch of whitish foam. A smidge of lacing.

Smell: Somewhat sweetish in the nose with a toffee-ish hint, an element of fruitiness and a lightly bready, pale malted barley quality.

Taste: A lightly bready, pale maltiness with a restrained toffee sweetness. Some citrus, some overriding fruitiness. Subtly bitter. With the initial sweet breadiness making a return. Bittersweet, soft finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium carbonation.

Overall: Simple, soft but fairly refreshing.