Racing Rooster Red Ale
Gig Harbor Brewing Co.

Dark, brownish, and a tinge of purple. Little to no head. Smell is sweet- malt, figs, earthy, almost wine like. The taste caught me off guard, and not in a bad way- there’s a lot going on, a lot more than a standard red. Dark fruits in the body- plum, fig, grapes, and cherries. The sweetness comes from the fruit, but there’s also a hint of molasses. This is backed by dark chocolate and earthy tones on the finish. Feel is wet. Alcohol is masked.
This is the best red ale I’ve ever had, though it reminds me more of an old ale with less of an ABV punch. I was expecting a typical “good but simple” red, but this beer had a different idea. I just love how the fruity body is balanced by the chocolate bitterness on the tail. Sure, red ales are typically more hop forward than this, but I think it does ‘unique’ so well that it deserves a pass. Really phenomenal.