Cottonwood Irish Style Red Ale
Carolina Beer Company

Cottonwood Irish Style Red AleCottonwood Irish Style Red Ale
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From:
Carolina Beer Company
 
North Carolina, United States
Style:
Irish Red Ale
ABV:
5.2%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.57 | pDev: 10.92%
Reviews:
25
Ratings:
28
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 21, 2011
Added:
Oct 19, 2003
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
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Ratings by NeroFiddled:
Photo of NeroFiddled
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Cottonwood's Irish Red pours a beautiful reddish copper body beneath a full head of creamy off-white froth that holds fairly well and leaves some minor lace at the outset of the glass. It's medium bodied, lightly creamy, and smooth across the palate with a fine-bubbled, restrained carbonation. Its sweetish malt is obvious in the nose, and its toffeeish character really comes through in the flavor! Hop flavor, as might be expected, is relegated to the background; and it's well-balanced by a restrained bitterness that puts the emphasis on malt, but is firm enough to lead to a drying finish.
May 17, 2005
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.5 by ericwilson54 from Kentucky

Dec 21, 2011
 
 
Rated: 4 by TrickkyGangsta from Florida

Dec 05, 2011
Photo of Lldeegan
Reviewed by Lldeegan from Louisiana

2.99/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours out a crystal clear mahogany color that gives off an ample, off-white head.

The nose is mostly grains, some citrus.

Light caramel malt on the palate, some floral hops on the back with a bitter twang of a finish.

Light-medium body with heavy carbonation make it a refreshing and easy drinking beer while still having nice full flavors without being too bold for the tastebuds.
Mar 10, 2010
Photo of Ryan011235
Reviewed by Ryan011235 from Ohio

3.67/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured into a pint glass on 12/8/09

A - Dark, hazy copper with crimson highlights & a few hints of brown. Poured a negligible head that runs to the inner perimeter of the glass, leaving a bubbly island in the center. Retention is in this vein.

S - Malty, sweet aroma comprised mostly of caramel. Notes of toasted malts & dry bread. Earthy hop undertones with a faint indication of floral hops.

T - Mostly in line with the nose - just bumped up a notch. Solid caramel presence at the core. Toasted bread is more apparent to taste, the dryness of which acts as a counterpoint to the caramel sweetness. Modest hop bitterness hits upfront & on the peripheries.

M - Medium body with carbonation tending toward vigorousness without being too prickly or effervescent. Just a touch of bitterness lingers on the finish.

D - This is an easy-drinking beer. It's certainly not the most interesting, but it is solid & rather enjoyable. I'm in no rush to get it again, but I'll enjoy the rest of the 6 pack.
Feb 07, 2010
Photo of h00dak
Reviewed by h00dak from Michigan

4.12/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This brew came to me via the mail in my beer of the month club. I did a double take when i saw that the bottle had a screw cap! This certainly put me off a bit but i kept an open mind while pouring it into my chilled Founder's pint glass.

Beautiful red/amber color. No head. No lacing. I took a smell and was not impressed. Not much of a nose on this one.

I took a sip. Much better than my observations would have led me to believe. Malty in the beginning. creamy and a hint of hops left on the tongue. Smooth as anything could be but i could tell by the numbness in my mouth that it had an above average ABV.

Is the low carbonation/headless/no lacing all characteristic of the "Irish style red ale"? Just curious.

This is a very good beer. Not great but well above average.
Jan 29, 2010
Photo of srrn
Reviewed by srrn from North Carolina

3.57/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Had a few of these at an Irish pub I gigged at in SC. Let me first say, this brew was served at the proper temperature, not too cold and not in a frosted mug. The head quickly diminished, but the beer looked good otherwise. It had a nice malty taste and a bit of hops in the end. Nothing spectacular here but a better example of the style than most. Quite drinkable.
Mar 28, 2009
Photo of chaz410
Reviewed by chaz410 from North Carolina

2.95/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Got this from bottle.
Pretty typical irsih red ale colored body (dark reddish brown body). Thin foamy head.
Smell is sweet caramel, light barley and light european hops.
Taste is slightly smokey, malty and sweet but in a very mild way. Slightly tart spicy flavors and slightly tea like flavors.
Drinkability is nice, it's an easy beer to drink but i've had much better irish reds.
Mar 26, 2009
Photo of wagenvolks
Reviewed by wagenvolks from Texas

3.77/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz. single from Whole Foods into a pilsener glass.

Pours an iced tea-like burnt copper color, with an undersized cap of off-white foam that recedes quickly to a thick ring of tiny bubbles. The aroma is rife with candy apple, caramel, butterscotch toffee, and faint kiss of floral hops. Very enticing presentation, to say the least.

While the flavor of this Irish Red isn't exactly a complex explosion of tastes, it certainly gets the job done. Biscuity malts pair with fresh honey, caramel, a toffee nuttiness, and some mineral notes. The latter imparts a crispness to the medium-thin body, making this a refreshing, sessionable beer. The body is a bit overcarbonated, however, as the fizziness detracts from the flavor's subtleties. Overall, this is one of Cottonwood's better offerings in my opinion, but I'd still like to see this brewery get a bit more creative with its brews.
Sep 03, 2008
Photo of cvstrickland
Reviewed by cvstrickland from North Carolina

3.57/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12-ounce bottle poured into a pint glass yields a lightish red amber body capped with a thin off-white head that retains at a thin sheet and leaves wispy lacing on the glass.

Smell is sweet and fruity with a spicy, juicy note.

Taste is fruity with a dry pale malt background and a nice citrusy sting of hops. A minerally note complements a mildly bitter finish.

Crisp and refreshing; well-carbonated superb drinkability.
Jul 03, 2008
Photo of AMo
Reviewed by AMo from Missouri

2.47/5  rDev -30.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2
Cottonwood Irish Style Red Ale pours an amberish red with a short lasting initial head. The smell is faint and odd. Taste isn't real great either, it comes across with a kind of mixed malt and floral taste. Mouthfeel has a medium carbonation and is really pretty smooth. This is the best part, but that odd taste just kills it for me making this brew not even close to being enjoyable.
May 13, 2008
Photo of ChainGangGuy
Reviewed by ChainGangGuy from Georgia

3/5  rDev -16%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Served on-tap at the Woods on South restaurant in Charlotte, NC.

Appearance: Clear, copper body with a small white head.

Smell: Mild grainy aroma with a whisp of fruit.

Taste: Toasted grain flavor with some hints of caramelized kettle sugars. Hint of fruit. Very, very light bitterness. Clean, crisp finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body. Medium carbonation. Watery.

Drinkability: A bit bland. Chuggable, if only to get it oughta the way for something else.
Feb 09, 2008
Photo of jneiswender
Reviewed by jneiswender from Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured out of a 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

A--medium white head and a light ruby body. clear but not brilliant.

S--Sweet almost melon like scent

T--very maltly but not cloyingly so. Almost grape like. The longer you drink it the more hop flavor comes out.

M--sort of medium to full body. I little thick.

D--I really don't care for this style other than it has a unique color. However, this is a very nice beer. Not syrupy sweet like so many others in this category.
Jan 30, 2008
Photo of MTNboy
Reviewed by MTNboy from Germany

3.75/5  rDev +5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I tried this in a beer sampler in the Charlotte Airport while I was on a layover. There is a little bar that is a branch of the Carolina Microbrewery. If you are on a layover it is definitely worth looking for.

Appearance- The color is more of a dark amber than a red. It forms an average head with a little bit of head and lace.

Smell- A good bouquet of fruit and hops.

Taste- Nice and pretty complex. Very woody like and pleasant with some fruity bitterness. Followed by some toffee sweet malt.

Mouthfeel- Very balanced with a great body.

Drinkability- Very smooth. Overall a very nice beer.
Aug 20, 2007
Photo of mortarit
Reviewed by mortarit from North Carolina

3.45/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A: Pours an amber color with a good off white (almost reddish hued) one finger head.
S: Floral hops with caramel malt that peaks through also. Smells sweet and malt
T: Tastes of hop floral fruit at the front of the mouth with a malt at the back of the mouth. I was impressed at the complexity and longevity of the hops as they stick for awhile leaving a good aftertaste. They compliment the malts very nicely.
M & D: Mouth feel is slick at first and then oily. Smooth on the palate and definitely an easy drinking red with a nice dry aftertaste. I would have another when the time comes. Cottonwood has yet to disappoint me.
Drinkable.
May 17, 2007
Photo of daliandragon
Reviewed by daliandragon from Maryland

3.6/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Picked up at Whole Foods in Raleigh before hitting the bars on St. Patrick's Day. Pours an almost maroon amber color with a blink and you'll miss it head and plenty oof carbonation. Smell is suprprisingly fruity up front with strong notes oof coffee and a touch of caramel. Very sweet but balanced enough to make it palatable.

Again fruitiness at the outset but quickly rolled up by sweet malt with just a hint of hops for balance. Mouthfeel is nicely smooth and crisp although a little thinner than I'd prefer. Overall, flavorful and worth seeking out if you want to celebrate the day without tossing back endless stout.
Mar 18, 2007
Photo of atsprings
Reviewed by atsprings from North Carolina

3.52/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
The beer was served a crisp slightly dark amber with no head whatsoever. The aroma was light and malty with a slight fruitiness. The taste was slightly well balanced but nothing that special. The beer was light on the palate with decent carbonation. This is a decently drinkable beer, but it's nothing spectacular.
Mar 18, 2007
Photo of RBorsato
Reviewed by RBorsato from Virginia

3.95/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Reddish copper with a decent light beige head at first from fast bubbles and very active carbonation. Malty, nutty, and toffee aromas and flavors. Delivers what's expected; a fully malty Irish Red. Light bodied ... seems a bit thin due to carbonation.

Per CB website: Seasonal: May-June

'6013' lasered on bottom
Tasted: 07/29/06
Sep 15, 2006
Photo of russpowell
Reviewed by russpowell from Arkansas

3.41/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured amber to red with a 1/2 offwhite head. Some lacing & okay head retention

Smell: slight hint of iron & that's all I got

T: Fruittyness up front folled by slight hops & grainy taste. Mellowed out to fruitty with malt presence as it warmed.

MF: Medium with good balance and carbonation

Drank pretty easy, just a easy sipping red that doesn't provoke a lot of throught. Give it a shot
Aug 01, 2006
Cottonwood Irish Style Red Ale from Carolina Beer Company
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 28 ratings