Paradox Red Ale | Paradox Brewery

3.53/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

On tap into a flute-type glass at the Mirror Lake Inn in Lake Placid. Reviewed from notes dated June 25, 2014.

A-My beer arrives with about two fingers of tan head. The foam is sticky with lots of lacing. The beer is brassy brown in color and still looking in the glass. It is murky in there.

S-The aroma is musty and grainy.There is a suggestion of roasted barley and some cocoa flavors, but the malts are more earthy and mundane than fruity, sweet, or chocolatey. Hops are very light with just a bit of grassy bitterness.

T-The taste tracks the smell closely. Flavors are mild, earthy, and a bit grainy overall. I would have expected a red ale to pack a bit more hop profile, but this beer has only a light grass flavor and a hint of bitterness on the finish.

M-The feel is a decent match for the flavors with medium heft and milder levels of carbonation.

O-This beer doesn't smell or taste like what I would expect from a red ale. It reminds me more of an English Bitter with the mellow flavors, heavier malt profile, and smooth carbonation. It pairs alright with the afternoon snack of cheese and nuts that I had, but I wouldn't search this beer out.

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3.29/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Appearance: Pours a clear deep amber color, mid-lasting tan head, decent lacing

Aroma: Not much nose. Faint hints of caramel or cocoa

Taste/flavor: Its flavor is distinctive, though I cannot put my finger on exactly what it is. Fairly well-balanced. More hoppy than malty. Dry finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, moderate carbonation, dry finish

Overall: Nothing special here, but a very good middle-of-the-road red ale

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3.73/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

3.77/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

3.22/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

3/5  rDev -15.5%

3/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

3.73/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

On tap at O'Slattery's Pub in Delmar, NY.

This pours a very light reddish brown, clear, with a small off white head, and lots of lacing.

Smells like your classic red ale, toasty malt, maybe a little bit of rye spice, and deep piney hops.

This isn't exactly unique, or particularly bold, but it does nail the hoppy red style. It's got a nice toasty backbone. I get a little bit of rye spice, but that just from the spicey and piney hops up front.

This is medium bodied, rich and slightly creamy, with a normal level of carbonation.

Nothing to knock your socks off, just a normal and enjoyable red ale.

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4.02/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

3.31/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%

3/5  rDev -15.5%

3.69/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%

4.53/5  rDev +27.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

3.24/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

3.69/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

3/5  rDev -15.5%

3.64/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

a fine red ale here, but really nothing unique or special about it at all. it is nice and clear, as copper colored as it is amber in the glass, and without much real head on it. the nose here is sweet caramelized crystal malts and biscuity fresh baked aromatics, fresh and clean, a tad less sweet than is common. there isnt a big difference between nose and taste, this has that specialty red malt toasted quality about it, and it has a nice roundness and layering to the grain. not much hops here hardly at all, but its not like the beer is out of balance in any way. this is a good session type brew, very easy drinking, not overly complex, but also rather forgettable. the carbonation was definitely a bit low for the style, but i liked the smooth soft body. lingers on the tongue awhile in the finish, which i like. this would be good with a grilled steak. overall a decently well made but somewhat uninspired beer from paradox, who hasnt yet made a beer that has turned me on in any meaningful way...

edit: this has gotten better over the batches, seemingly hoppier and sturdier on the malts than it has been in the past. earthy and refined, very adirondack. i am going to raise a few scores to reflect its progression since i first tasted it years ago...

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3/5  rDev -15.5%

3.63/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

5/5  rDev +40.8%