Weekly Beer Focus - Amber/Red Ales (and Lagers) - Jan 28-Feb 4

Beer and Spirits
1

Ok, it is time for a new weekly thread. I’ve been begging for reds and have a fridge full of them, plus I saw some Red Seal chit chat on the other thread. So, lets get er started Friday.

Just for clarification, we are not talking about Oud Bruin or Flanders reds - the sour ones. I am talking classic Ambers and Reds. Some great examples, with categories listed at the bottom:

To me the classic amber is Bells Amber, but Fat Tire is an amber, Ballast Point Calico Amber, and Dos Equis makes an amber (classified as a Vienna lager). I think Killians Red might be a really be an amber, but whatever. Haven’t tried one in forever, but I used to like it.

Some super Reds are Bear Republic Red Rocket Ale, Lagunitas Censored, and I have a Coronado Mermaid’s Red.

Then you can go big and do an imperial red, like Harpoon Leviathan Imperial Red, Southern Tier Big Red, Terrapin Big Hoppy Monster, or Oskar Blues Gordon. Imperial Reds add a bit of a hoppy characteristic, but not so much as to turn me away.

Here are styles and some well rated ones. No go shopping!

American Amber / Red Ale | BeerAdvocate" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

American Amber / Red Lager | BeerAdvocate" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Vienna Lager | BeerAdvocate" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

2

Cool by me though late notice with no discussion. How about you just change the title to ‘Amber/Red Ales’? [wink.gif]

3

I like to dictate things. Makes up for my lack of power at home. [training.gif]

4

Great category…

Red Seal
Boont Amber
Red Tail
Full Sail Amber
Lagunitas Censored

I actually think that BJ’s (the Pizza/Pub chain) red, “Jeremiah” isn’t too bad and their amber, can’t remember the name, isn’t too bad either.

I’ll have to do some shopping. My understanding is that you can’t get Bell’s in CA, correct? Have never had any of their beers but would love to try the Amber if I could find it. Anywhere in the bay area?

5

I will hit the stores this week, but what the hell happened to the big winter beers-Imperial Stouts, Barleywines. I have soooo many of these waiting in the wings. You guys aren’t afraid of a little flavor and booze are you?

6

sounds good to me, although i would’ve voted the next weekly focus to be racer; guess i bought that sixer for nothing. shit.

7

We totally have to do those two styles in Feb. MUST be done before spring. Let’s put them in the queue and do them. I have plenty of Imperial stouts, and a SN30 barleywine in my possession.

8

I was just giving you guys some shit. I’m up for anything, but I am well stocked for the big boys. [training.gif]

9

I aint drinking no shit, so keep it. neener

10

Scott,

That SN Jack and Ken’s 30th was my favorite of the series.

11

Oh yeh…a Racer week. If we just cut and paste out of the other thread, we could have a 3 pager going right now. [drinkers.gif]

12

Mine is the Fritz and Kens, but I am a total stout whore. Plus i haven’t tried the Jack and Kens yet. Should be fun!

13

Well, so am I. You will be pleasantly surprised.

14

yeah yeah … i’m actually drinking a Lagunitas Lil Sumpin Sumpin right now, not a Racer! [tease.gif] about 5 minutes ago, though, i finished a racer.

15

A fridge audit reveals these beers that clearly say Amber on the label somewhere, which is good enough for me:

Sam Smith’s Tadcaster Ale
Abita Amber (a lager actually, didn’t know I had another one kicking around it must have been buried for 4-6 months)
Boont Amber
Sam Smith’s Nut Brown

One more that might qualify:

Rogue Nut Brown (not even mine but I’m stronger than my roommate)

Then we’re stretching with:

Roquefort 6
Celebrator
Belhaven Scottish Ale
Traquair Scottish Ale

Ok, those last 4 aren’t even close.

Time to go shopping.

16

Three cheers for a barleywine week!

17

Are we throwing Brown Ales and Nut Brown Ales into this? IMO, they deserve their own week, but it don’t matter either way.

18

No, we did those right here:

Weekly Beer Focus - Brown Ales: 11/5 - 11/14 - Beer and Spirits - WineBerserkers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

19

Got the jump start with a Red Tail with lunch. Maybe it was just coming out of a cold wet cave to have lunch in the sun with a beer, but that really hit the spot and was one of the more enjoyable beers I’ve had lately. Not as hoppy as I recall, certainly seems less overtly so than Red Seal which I’ve had most recently. Nicely malty, decent richness, crisp, clean, tasty, I always remember liking this beer and should drink more of it!

20

I was telling myself to wait until tomorrow, but since you broke the seal…I’ll bust one open tonight!