New Holland Brewing Co. Dragon’s Milk Crimson Keep Bourbon Barrel-Aged Red Ale

Posted on by Evan

New Holland Brewing Co.’s Dragon’s Milk beers have really grown on me. I am really liking what Dragon’s Milk is doing. I was recently at my local Total Wine and came across Dragon’s Milk Crimson Keep, an 11% bourbon barrel-aged red ale. Dragon’s Milk ages this red ale in bourbon barrels for one month deep in their cellars. This red ale pours deep red with an off-white one-finger head. The aroma is malty, stone fruit, and some sweetness. The flavor is malty, light stone fruits, caramel, toffee, and light oak. This has a full mouthfeel. This ale finishes with some toffee and caramel flavors. The oak notes are muted on the finish, as are the malts. The aftertaste is malty, mildly sweet, and has some faded oak. This is a good beer that is an A. I found this beer similar to a Belgian double. I enjoyed that. The beer is matured just the right amount of time, creating a wonderful bourbon barrel-aged beer that you should try. Please stay safe, be kind to each other, and remember to enjoy responsibly. Cheers!

Trader Joes Josephs Brau Drive Thru Red

Posted on by Evan

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!

Widmer Brothers Brewing Company Brrr Hoppy Red

Posted on by Evan

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!