Emerald Island Red
McKenzie Brewing Company

Appearance: I had this beer at the source, on tap at the pub in Eugene. Looked red, cloudy, unfiltered, ring of foam.

Smell: Heavy caramel malt, molasses, some hops to balance but mainly sweetness.

Taste: Roasty malt, caramel, raisin, a dry grassy hops, dry finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, carbonated, crisp and clean, smooth.

Drinkability: This beer was a pretty straight forward American ale, with lots of raisin like sweetness and some alcoholic and spicy hops floating around in there too.

It seemed fitting to have a pint of this Irish red ale on St. Patrick’s Day. But at first glance, I though I might have been accidentally served another pint of Steelhead’s Heat Miser. The dense sorrel color (think Irish setter) is identical in the two beers and there is considerable overlap in the taste, suggesting a prudent use of available ingredients shaped similar recipes for both beers. I know it’s unfair to make comparisons among siblings, but Emerald Island lacked the buff creamy head of Heat Miser. The body is lighter, more brisk, and the bitterness more lemony. The malty aroma also suggests a similar grain bill though I also noted a light scent of butter.

This is a fine beer but draws too close a comparison to Steelhead’s richer winter seasonal. It’s almost a Heat Miser Lite.