The Red
West Sixth Brewing Company

 

 

Tinted red but more amber in color. Nose is piney. Taste is malty then the bitterness hits. Great amount of bitterness that keeps on giving. I love this.

Robust red ale is a beer that's largely missing from the craft beer repertoire. Stuck between IPA and brown ale, the often forgotten amber ale is one of the most versatile styles when pairing with a wide array of American foods from pizza to burgers, to chicken wings and more.

Deep amber in color, the nearly bronze beer pours with a thin haze and crowns with a creamy off white foam. Its aromas wash the senses with toasty, nutty and caramelized grains and a pep of citrusy, piney hops. Malt sweetness hits the tongue with a richer brown sugar and toffee flavor to kick the session off.

The middle palate balances quickly as the sweetness wears off and settles on the palate with the dry taste of granola. The rise of hops bring an essence of red grapefruit and orange peel to brighten the flavor before trailing into a bittersweet finish of pine, fresh grassiness and hemp.

Medium bodied, the richer malt taste want to register with a bolder texture, but the moderate alcohol and resinous hops keep the mouthfeel drying and crisp. An after palate of bitter citrus rinds and a waft of bready barley starch keep the hops supported and rounded with a sense of balance.