Queen Medb
Middle James Brewing Co.

 

 

 

A: Pours a crystal clear medium to dark ruby red with moderate amounts of active visible carbonation rising from the bottom of the glass and moderate crimson + garnet red + amber colored highlights. The beer has a three finger tall fizzy foamy beige head that slowly reduces to a handful of small to medium sized patches of thin film surrounded by a large patch of mottled very thin film covering approximately 75% of the surface of the beer and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of roasted + toasted + bready + caramel + toffee malts with a light to moderate amount of caramel + toffee sweetness. Light aromas of earthy hops.

T: Upfront there are moderate flavors of roasted + toasted + bready + caramel + toffee malts with a light to moderate amount of caramel + toffee sweetness. Finally there are light flavors of earthy hops which impart a light amount of bitterness which fades away leaving a relatively clean finish.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Slightly crisp initially with a fairly clean finish.

O: Easy to drink with well hidden alcohol and a pleasantly crisp + clean mouthfeel. Enjoyable with a nice balance between the malty flavors and aromas and earthy hops - enough bitterness to cut the sweetness from the malts and keep this one sessionable. I don’t come across many Irish Red Ales but even though they bring back nostalgia of the late 90s, I still enjoy them.

Pours a ruby red with orange highlights and a quickly dissipating half finger of white lace. I miss Red Ales. Glad to see that they are making a comeback. Smell is caramel, grains. Taste is Killians-esque, sweet but not overbearing. Carbonation medium high, good feel. MJB produces quality beers, one of Charlotte’s many standouts. If you like red ales, give it a go.