1891 Summer Ale
Red Lodge Ales

 

 

 

i expected this to be a lot lighter, being a summer ale and all, but its quite malty, caramely a little bit, but on the lighter side of that, with a dry rye spice, some wheaty body i think, and even a sweet floral thing going on with it, maybe not the most east drinking summer beer, but i think it still works for summer, and is another very solid glass of ale from these guys. im sure there is rye in this one, the dusty peppery character is there in nose and taste, but the effervescent carbonation and surprising dryness for its color sort of whisks the grain weight away. a honey sweetness, a lightly leafy spring hop profile, baked notes, kind of simple in its brilliant cohesiveness. fresh from the tap and right from the source, this is quality ale, even if it doesnt really fit the light and watery summer beer paradigm we have somehow created for ourselves as a community. i like this being more of a beer drinkers beer. red lodge is leading the way in montana, and i always enjoy new flavors from them. this isnt as complex as maybe it was intended to be, but its a robust take on a summer ale. very nice.

Welp this here beer is as smooth as boat tail riviera. Quaffable in the extreme, and by far the best summer seasonal in the state. Really wish I had this during those hot Kansas City Summer's when the darned humid would have muh glasses fogged before I got outta bed.

Anyways, it has a light fruit character and sturdy malt profile anchored by minor hop bitterness. Mouthfeel is crisp without being overly carbonated.

Overall, well done red lodge! Perfect for the style and even if you don't care for the style it is still very well executed.

 

Poured from bomber into a pint glass

Appearance – The beer pours a golden-orange color with a small white head. The head fades relatively quickly leaving a little bit of foamy lace on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The beer is strongest of an orange citrus smell mixed with some tropical fruits of pineapple and mango as well as some lighter grapefruit hop aromas. Rounding out these smells is a touch of herb and a little bit of grass.

Taste – The taste begins with a bready and sweeter flavor of orange fruit juice and some of the tropical fruits that were in the nose. As the taste advances some of the sweetness fades a little bit all while some light hop flavors of grapefruit and grass come to the tongue. While the sweet initially fades, it resurges again at the end, and along with a bit of a grainy taste that also develops, one is left with a mildly sweet and lightly hopped, but very easy drinking taste on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is average in thickness and chewiness with a carbonation level that is rather average as well. For the mix malt and hop the feel is rather nice, and with themoderate abv. of the brew it overall makes for a very easy drinking brew.

Overall – This was a very tasty, but easy drinking brew. I like the classification that Red Lodge gives the brew as a Summer Ale. That is exactly what it is- a great summer drinking beer. A quite nice drinker.