Red Trolley Ale | Karl Strauss Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Karl Strauss Brewing Company
California, United States
karlstrauss.com
Style: Irish Red Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.80%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 01-16-2003
Reviews: 139 | Ratings: 523
Reviews by Bricelyn:
More User Reviews:
3.88/5 rDev +10.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
12 oz bottle poured into a Anchor steam glass.Smell is a light maybe sour cherry smell.Taste is a sour cherry mixed with maybe Caramel flavor.Not a lot of bang for the buck with this one.It`s not bad just nothing that really stands out that makes you want to buy it again.I`m not sorry I tried it but probably would not buy again.
★ 330 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
12 oz bottle poured into a Anchor steam glass.Smell is a light maybe sour cherry smell.Taste is a sour cherry mixed with maybe Caramel flavor.Not a lot of bang for the buck with this one.It`s not bad just nothing that really stands out that makes you want to buy it again.I`m not sorry I tried it but probably would not buy again.
★ 330 characters
4/5 rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from the bottle into a Spiegelau stout glass, hey it's all good.
Deep red rust and orange color, fairly clear with a dusty unfiltered like presence. Head is light tan and two fingers, settling to an almost fluffy top and small Puck and collar.
Aroma is mild caramel and interesting fruity esters. Hints of soft orange and grapefruit, tangy a bit.
Palate is interesting twinge. Soft caramel but more tangy almost sour fruit than sweetness. Soft bodied and orange tangy and juiced not quite sour or off putting. mild caramel sweetness just a nice touch which accents the fruit quality really nicely.
It's a bit different from Irish Reds I have had but a real good solid brew
★ 688 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from the bottle into a Spiegelau stout glass, hey it's all good.
Deep red rust and orange color, fairly clear with a dusty unfiltered like presence. Head is light tan and two fingers, settling to an almost fluffy top and small Puck and collar.
Aroma is mild caramel and interesting fruity esters. Hints of soft orange and grapefruit, tangy a bit.
Palate is interesting twinge. Soft caramel but more tangy almost sour fruit than sweetness. Soft bodied and orange tangy and juiced not quite sour or off putting. mild caramel sweetness just a nice touch which accents the fruit quality really nicely.
It's a bit different from Irish Reds I have had but a real good solid brew
★ 688 characters
4.29/5 rDev +22.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Super smooth and refreshing malt forward with a slightly sweet finish. A great tasting beer for any occasion that I feel even novice drinkers would enjoy. Good from the bottles but I enjoy these the most from my Sam Adams perfect pint glasses.
★ 243 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Super smooth and refreshing malt forward with a slightly sweet finish. A great tasting beer for any occasion that I feel even novice drinkers would enjoy. Good from the bottles but I enjoy these the most from my Sam Adams perfect pint glasses.
★ 243 characters
5/5 rDev +42.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
L: VERY red, almost mahogany in color. Almost similar to an amber ale.
S: Loads of caramel, toffee, nuts, and a hint of wood (not an off-note)
T: Practically no hops to this. All malt. Again, lots of caramel, nuts, and toffee with a hint of wood.
F: Pretty thick for a beer of this strength. Decent carbonation, too. More than I'd expect from a malt-forward ale.
O: My favorite beer of it's style and my favorite Karl Strauss beer at that. Very flavorful Irish Red.
★ 465 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
L: VERY red, almost mahogany in color. Almost similar to an amber ale.
S: Loads of caramel, toffee, nuts, and a hint of wood (not an off-note)
T: Practically no hops to this. All malt. Again, lots of caramel, nuts, and toffee with a hint of wood.
F: Pretty thick for a beer of this strength. Decent carbonation, too. More than I'd expect from a malt-forward ale.
O: My favorite beer of it's style and my favorite Karl Strauss beer at that. Very flavorful Irish Red.
★ 465 characters
4.92/5 rDev +40.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
This is an interesting example of Irish Red because there are hidden notes of citrus from American hop that actually work quite well for the style. Pours a gorgeous amber with small head and is strong on the caramel and malt flavors. Barely noticeable hops on the nose, instead heavy malt sweetness, caramel and tiny hints of dark fruit.
★ 337 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
This is an interesting example of Irish Red because there are hidden notes of citrus from American hop that actually work quite well for the style. Pours a gorgeous amber with small head and is strong on the caramel and malt flavors. Barely noticeable hops on the nose, instead heavy malt sweetness, caramel and tiny hints of dark fruit.
★ 337 characters
5/5 rDev +42.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
A benchmark for Red Ales! Malt forward with a dark mahogany amber color, it boasts a nice balancing act of mid-bright, bready malts with some dark fruits and candi sugar to compliment it. Subtle caramels abound! Slightly bright, malty biscuit notes rounds out the aroma and aftertaste with a nicely balanced mouthfeel and carbonation.
There is a big reason why this beer wins a lot of awards: This is a beer that's true to it's style and does a great job at it! Those who don't like this beer are either in the wrong category (This isn't the super duper hoppy undrinkable choking-down bitter beer corner!! Lol!) or those who like an ID crisis with their beer.
★ 660 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
A benchmark for Red Ales! Malt forward with a dark mahogany amber color, it boasts a nice balancing act of mid-bright, bready malts with some dark fruits and candi sugar to compliment it. Subtle caramels abound! Slightly bright, malty biscuit notes rounds out the aroma and aftertaste with a nicely balanced mouthfeel and carbonation.
There is a big reason why this beer wins a lot of awards: This is a beer that's true to it's style and does a great job at it! Those who don't like this beer are either in the wrong category (This isn't the super duper hoppy undrinkable choking-down bitter beer corner!! Lol!) or those who like an ID crisis with their beer.
★ 660 characters
4.35/5 rDev +24.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: Clear amber with an off-white head.
Smell: Caramel, a bit fruity.
Taste: Moderately sweet caramel malt up front. Has a strong dark fruity hop aroma - like grapes or plumbs. Not very bitter. Leaves a clean hoppy aftertaste.
Mouthfeel: Medium thickness, well carbonated.
Overall: I really like this. It’s not over the top, but plenty flavorful in an easy to appreciate kind of way. I imagine this would be a good choice to introduce someone to beer.
★ 465 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: Clear amber with an off-white head.
Smell: Caramel, a bit fruity.
Taste: Moderately sweet caramel malt up front. Has a strong dark fruity hop aroma - like grapes or plumbs. Not very bitter. Leaves a clean hoppy aftertaste.
Mouthfeel: Medium thickness, well carbonated.
Overall: I really like this. It’s not over the top, but plenty flavorful in an easy to appreciate kind of way. I imagine this would be a good choice to introduce someone to beer.
★ 465 characters
3.53/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This is a decent offering from Karl Strauss and will definantly appeal to the MaltHeads out there. The beer poures a deep amber/red color with a nice frothy white head that left nice lace down my glass. The smell was interesting and made up of a very light doppelbock type scent. The taste was nothing as intriguing as the scent, but quite plesent. The beer had a nice malt flavor to it and was quite sweet with a definant caramel aftertaste. Like I said, lovers of malt will go for this beer but the taste is a little too one dimentonal for me.
★ 545 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This is a decent offering from Karl Strauss and will definantly appeal to the MaltHeads out there. The beer poures a deep amber/red color with a nice frothy white head that left nice lace down my glass. The smell was interesting and made up of a very light doppelbock type scent. The taste was nothing as intriguing as the scent, but quite plesent. The beer had a nice malt flavor to it and was quite sweet with a definant caramel aftertaste. Like I said, lovers of malt will go for this beer but the taste is a little too one dimentonal for me.
★ 545 characters
3.78/5 rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On tap in the hotel in S.D., reviewed on the lobby wireless hook up, ah technology...
A - Pours a rich shade of medium mahogony, clear, with an eggshell head, show retentive powers and leaving nice ringed and scattered lacing.
S - malty goodness.
T - This is tasty, malty brew, light on the hops, but some are preent in the rear and the finish, notes of honey, caramel, wafer cookies
M - Smooth , medium bodied, easy and pleasant on the tastebuds.
D - This is not my favorite style, kind of dull, especially after a week of seeking out and consuming SD style 2xIPA hop bombs, this is a pleasant, drinkable brew, nothing more, nothing else.
★ 644 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On tap in the hotel in S.D., reviewed on the lobby wireless hook up, ah technology...
A - Pours a rich shade of medium mahogony, clear, with an eggshell head, show retentive powers and leaving nice ringed and scattered lacing.
S - malty goodness.
T - This is tasty, malty brew, light on the hops, but some are preent in the rear and the finish, notes of honey, caramel, wafer cookies
M - Smooth , medium bodied, easy and pleasant on the tastebuds.
D - This is not my favorite style, kind of dull, especially after a week of seeking out and consuming SD style 2xIPA hop bombs, this is a pleasant, drinkable brew, nothing more, nothing else.
★ 644 characters
3.4/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
2.88/5 rDev -17.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Everyone says this is the best Karl Strauss has to offer. Its a decent beer. Good color, solid red with an off-white head. A nearly too-sweet caramel nose with straw. Malty sweet taste, to the point it feels like it builds up on your teeth. Lasting finish. Pretty thin, not remarkable. For a lighter beer, I think the Amber Lager is a much better alternative.
★ 359 characters
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Everyone says this is the best Karl Strauss has to offer. Its a decent beer. Good color, solid red with an off-white head. A nearly too-sweet caramel nose with straw. Malty sweet taste, to the point it feels like it builds up on your teeth. Lasting finish. Pretty thin, not remarkable. For a lighter beer, I think the Amber Lager is a much better alternative.
★ 359 characters
3.57/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Deep amber to reddish in color. A light bit of white foam covers a small bit of the top of the beer. Light aroma of caramel and amber malt. There's a taste of amber malt with very little play from the hops. There's not much in the fade. The body is a bit light for my taste.
★ 274 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Deep amber to reddish in color. A light bit of white foam covers a small bit of the top of the beer. Light aroma of caramel and amber malt. There's a taste of amber malt with very little play from the hops. There's not much in the fade. The body is a bit light for my taste.
★ 274 characters
3.68/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On Tap
Karl Strauss Brewing Company
Carlsbad, CA
Dark red and amber with a thin khaki colored head. Lines of lacing left down the glass.
Very bready aroma with some significant caramel sweetness as well. Simple, pleasant enough, and very bready.
This tastes like toasted bread with a bit of caramel and toffee sweetness. Moderate bitterness. Simple, though very drinkable.
Medium bodied with ample carbonation.
An extremely bready red ale, and flavorful enough per the style.
★ 481 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On Tap
Karl Strauss Brewing Company
Carlsbad, CA
Dark red and amber with a thin khaki colored head. Lines of lacing left down the glass.
Very bready aroma with some significant caramel sweetness as well. Simple, pleasant enough, and very bready.
This tastes like toasted bread with a bit of caramel and toffee sweetness. Moderate bitterness. Simple, though very drinkable.
Medium bodied with ample carbonation.
An extremely bready red ale, and flavorful enough per the style.
★ 481 characters
3/5 rDev -14.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours a light red, standard clarity, 1/2" head on it, white in color. Aroma was uneventful.
Taste, a little bit of caramel, toffee, sweet and bready. Not really any bitterness or hops to speak of here. Relatively light on the palate. For a second, I thought I should be giving this beer a higher rating, it doesn't do anything poorly, it is true to style, but its just so run of the mill for me, but I realize that's how I feel about most red ales. Just one of those, don't hate it, don't love it.
Its a beer that has a place in the world, but its not exactly teeming with flavor country either.
★ 599 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours a light red, standard clarity, 1/2" head on it, white in color. Aroma was uneventful.
Taste, a little bit of caramel, toffee, sweet and bready. Not really any bitterness or hops to speak of here. Relatively light on the palate. For a second, I thought I should be giving this beer a higher rating, it doesn't do anything poorly, it is true to style, but its just so run of the mill for me, but I realize that's how I feel about most red ales. Just one of those, don't hate it, don't love it.
Its a beer that has a place in the world, but its not exactly teeming with flavor country either.
★ 599 characters
Red Trolley Ale from Karl Strauss Brewing Company
3.5
out of 5
based on 523 ratings.
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured into a pint glass from a 12 oz bottle. This beer is beautiful, a wonderfull combination of red and amber gold.
The first thing I smell is Tomato soup (call me crazy). The taste is slightly malty with a warm finish that sticks to the pallet. Perfectly carbonated. I would session this beer. Trying to drink all the local San Diego beers and this is one of the best.
★ 372 characters