Red Oak
Red Oak Brewery
- From:
- Red Oak Brewery
- North Carolina, United States
- Style:
- American Amber / Red Lager
Ranked #15 - ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 85
Ranked #31,422 - Avg:
- 3.78 | pDev: 16.67%
- Reviews:
- 139
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 18, 2025
- Added:
- Nov 28, 2002
- Wants:
- 28
- Gots:
- 132
SCORE
85
Very Good
85
Very Good
From the brewery: Red Oak Amber is a Munich Urtyp (Old Style) Lager. We begin the brewing process with custom kilned imported Munich Malt. Red Oak is then hopped with Spalt Noble Hops imported from Bavaria, the oldest hop growing region in the world. Before fermentation we add a yeast strain from Weihenstephen, the oldest brewery in the world, founded before 1040 AD. Weeks of aging gives Red Oak the smooth taste it is known for.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by superspak from North Carolina
3.68/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.68/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at City BBQ into plastic cup. Pours slightly hazy deep ruby red/amber color with a small dense off white head with good retention and spotty soapy lacing on the glass. Aromas and flavors of caramel, brown bread/crust, toasted biscuit, nuttiness, herbal, floral, grass, light roast and fruitiness. Light-med herbal woody grassy bitterness on the finish. Medium carbonation and body, balanced bready/grainy malt and sticky hop mouthfeel. Lingering sticky hop dryness, with no astringency. Fairly crisp, clean, refreshing finish. Very clean lager flavors, with minimal fruitiness. The preferred local Amber lager over Yuengling on tap all over the place. Well made for the style.
Feb 18, 2025
Reviewed by BJB13 from Maryland
3.74/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.74/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12 ounce bottle poured into a dimpled mug.
L: Clear amber-copper pour, 0ne inch khaki head, fizzy foam fades to a sparse collar inside of a minute.
S: Big bready aroma at the pouring, much lighter nose after, caramel, herbal hops and some mineral notes.
T: Mild caramel sweetness to open but fairly dry otherwise, lowly bitter herbal and woody hops.
F: Light bodied with a bit of heft, not thin, well carbonated, crisp feel.
O: Refreshing and quick drinking, nice session beer.
Dec 31, 2024L: Clear amber-copper pour, 0ne inch khaki head, fizzy foam fades to a sparse collar inside of a minute.
S: Big bready aroma at the pouring, much lighter nose after, caramel, herbal hops and some mineral notes.
T: Mild caramel sweetness to open but fairly dry otherwise, lowly bitter herbal and woody hops.
F: Light bodied with a bit of heft, not thin, well carbonated, crisp feel.
O: Refreshing and quick drinking, nice session beer.
Reviewed by CBlack85 from South Carolina
3.88/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.88/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 oz. can into a Willi Becher Glass
The beer pours a crystal clear copper color with a moderate amount of off white head that quickly recedes leaving behind virtually no lacing.
The aroma is toasted dark bread, caramel, toffee, and a mild hoppiness.
Similar to the aroma, the flavor is toasted malt, dark bread, slightly sweet caramel. Well balanced and clean. Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall, this is a very nice beer that is easy to drink and just interesting enough to not get boring over a 2-3 beer session.
May 25, 2024The beer pours a crystal clear copper color with a moderate amount of off white head that quickly recedes leaving behind virtually no lacing.
The aroma is toasted dark bread, caramel, toffee, and a mild hoppiness.
Similar to the aroma, the flavor is toasted malt, dark bread, slightly sweet caramel. Well balanced and clean. Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall, this is a very nice beer that is easy to drink and just interesting enough to not get boring over a 2-3 beer session.
Reviewed by atowneagle from North Carolina
3/5 rDev -20.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev -20.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Look:
Pours an attractive clear copper in color, but loses points with a fizzy pop head with no retention.
Smell:
Hint of caramel malt is about it. Cant pick up any hops in the aroma.
Taste:
A smooth sweet caramel lager. I cant find anything to complain about. Cant find anything to rave about either. The hops are barely noticible. Very poundable brew.
Feel:
Stupid category I refuse to comment in.
Value:
At 17.99 a 12pack there are better options. Yuengling at 10.99 comes to mind
Overall:
An easy drinking lager. I can see why alot people like it. Personally, I see better options
Dec 20, 2023Pours an attractive clear copper in color, but loses points with a fizzy pop head with no retention.
Smell:
Hint of caramel malt is about it. Cant pick up any hops in the aroma.
Taste:
A smooth sweet caramel lager. I cant find anything to complain about. Cant find anything to rave about either. The hops are barely noticible. Very poundable brew.
Feel:
Stupid category I refuse to comment in.
Value:
At 17.99 a 12pack there are better options. Yuengling at 10.99 comes to mind
Overall:
An easy drinking lager. I can see why alot people like it. Personally, I see better options
Reviewed by nblake5199 from North Carolina
4.16/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.16/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
This is a very solid beer. On the nose you get wheat, bread, almost banana nut bread.
Taste...wheat, zero alcohol. It does leave a after taste, like a yeast taste.
Overall a solid beer that is easy to drink.
Dec 16, 2023Taste...wheat, zero alcohol. It does leave a after taste, like a yeast taste.
Overall a solid beer that is easy to drink.
Reviewed by Brumaster77 from North Carolina
4.5/5 rDev +19%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +19%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Purchased in NC. Can only find it there. It’s an awesome Red Oak Bavarian lager. Also a state favorite and well sold in the fall. It’s full flavored, refreshing, and smooth.
Aug 27, 2023Reviewed by PumpkinHead65 from North Carolina
5/5 rDev +32.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +32.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Red Oak Amber Premium Lager is hands down favorite and my go-to at home. It is SO smooth, full flavored, refreshing, and supremely delicious. I drink IPAs, ambers, pale ales... most anything but stouts/porters and light beers. But Red Oak... Ahhhhh.
Word to the wise with Red Oak: this beer is unpasteurized and must be kept refrigerated and upright at all times. Getting warm can ruin it and laying the bottles down in the fridge will result in them foaming when opened.
Aug 06, 2023Word to the wise with Red Oak: this beer is unpasteurized and must be kept refrigerated and upright at all times. Getting warm can ruin it and laying the bottles down in the fridge will result in them foaming when opened.
Reviewed by tigg924 from Massachusetts
4/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours clear, caramel red in color with one inch head. Taste is caramel and dark bread. Light bodied, sweet, moderate carbonation. Makes for a nice and light sessionable lager. Good.
May 13, 2023
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