Habanero Day Dreaming
Rutland Beer Works

Poured into a nonic pint glass, the appearance was a rugged semi-dark red color with a finger’s worth of white foamy head that glistened around the glass and then slid into the beer. Sly stringy lace. The aroma started off with a decent blend of danky onion hops and caramel/toffee malts. Opens on up into a woody to nutty blend. Habaneros seem fairly delicate. The flavor leans malty initially and then the sweet dryness of the wood and nuts comes in coupled by the habaneros on the back end. Subtle crisp semi-sweet to spicy sort of aftertaste flowing on into the finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fair sipping quality about it. Spiciness of the habaneros seems to cause a little bit of kick in this department. ABV felt right as intended by the brewer. Overall, weird for a red ale. I figured they were just trying to do something different to "spice" up a style that seems to be losing interest in this day and age. I applaud the attempt, but those of you looking for a big spicy kick, you won’t get that in this one.