MashCraft Red
MashCraft Brewing

 

This is actually a beer that my Dad ordered, but since we both like to review beers he let me get a few sips in order to log a proper review. This one was ordered prior to dinner so no food was around to change the flavors or aromas.

This beer pours a clear mahogany hue that seems to glow a bit despite the darkness. A thin white head graces the top of the beer and quickly dissipates to nothing. Low carbonation is visible. 3.75/5 The aroma really throws me for a loop here. I was expecting a true Red Ale but I got a nose full of Starbucks Frappucino. Coffee, chocolate, lactos, brown sugar, and vanilla all come through big time and the intensity is fairly strong. There is virtually no hop profile to speak of, just malt. The aroma is nice, just nowhere near what I expected. Maybe I should revise my Red Ale expectations! 3.5/5 The flavor profile is less sweet than the aroma but the intensity is of a similar level. Caramel, brown sugar, dark toasted bread, and hazelnuts come through in a malty explosion on the tongue. There is a bit of lactose as well. Once again, there is really no hop profile to speak of and bitterness is next to non-existent. 3.75/5 This is a medium bodied beer that is low on carbonation and is lightly dry with just a light lingering dryness after swallowing. It is surprisingly crisp despite the seeming presence of lactose and the malty profile of the flavors and aromas. 3.75/5 This is a very interesting Red Ale, and one that is completely off the wall in regards to any Reds that I have had before. Definite focus on malt here with very little hops. Sweet but not overly so (more sweet on the nose than the tongue) and the mouthfeel reflects a closer alignment to the traditional Red than the flavors and aromas do. 3.75/5

 

This is one of the best Red's on the market.