Red Ale

Drive Thru Red from Josephs Brau (Trader Joe’s) in San Jose California is a dry-hopped red ale. This beer is 7.2% ABV and uses noble Tattnanger hops. This beer gets its name from the giant redwood trees in northern California that you can drive through. This red ale pours a red color with a one-and-a-half finger off-white head. The head is steady but does fade down to scattered clouds. The aroma is malty, hoppy, and bitter. There is a little sweet note as well. The flavor is malty, bitter, semi-sweet, and hoppy. This beer has a medium feel in the mouth. This ale finishes with a light bitter/hoppy note. Then you get an aftertaste of a light, semi-sweet bitterness. This beer is just average, getting a C+. I would like to have more hoppy notes with this beer. That would make this a good beer. I am coming to the conclusion that Trader Joe’s Joseph Brau beers are hit or miss. I like some, then I don’t like others. Please stay safe, be kind to one another, and remember to enjoy responsibly! Cheers!

This beer from Portland, Oregon, is Brrr Hoppy Red, a Northwest Red Ale from Widmer Brothers Brewing Company. This red ale is 7.2% ABV. This beer won silver in 2015 at the International Beer and Cider Competition. It has malts such as Pale Malt, Caramel 10l, Caramel 80l, Carapils, and Dark Chocolate. It also has hops such as Alchemy, Eureka, and Cascade. Cascade is grown in the Northwestern USA and used in Northwest beer brewing. This ale pours and red/brown color with a one-and-a-half beige head. The aroma is malted, hoppy, and sweet. This beer has a strong alcoholic not to it as well. This beer tastes bitter, hoppy, sweet, and malted. It’s a long strong for a 7.2% ABV. The mouthfeel is full, and it does coat your mouth a bit. Then it finshes is strong, and bitter malt. Then you get a bitter aftertaste with a muted malt note. This beer is a little bit too strong and bitter. I give Brrr Hoppy Red Ale a D+. The alcoholic and bitter notes clash, and that knocks it below average. I would have this again and would not recommend it. It does not have a good balance of flavors, and I could not find one good flavor. Maybe the malty flavor was okay, but this wasn’t the worst beer. Please stay safe, be kind, and remember to enjoy responsibly! Cheers!

Trader Joes Josephs Brau Drive Thru Red

Widmer Brothers Brewing Company Brrr Hoppy Red