As you prepare for Valentine’s Day, chances are you’re going to want to spend the weekend boozing, heavily. Hopefully the weekend’s hardest decision will be which craft beer you’ll work into the celebrations. Luckily the Beer Professor has gone ahead and removed all the headaches with my latest beer review! This weekend, Bear Republic Brewing Company’s Red Rocket Ale is What’s on Tap!
Brewing since the mid-90s Bear Republic is one of the most well know, oft-drank, Northern California breweries; their Racer 5 IPA is an extremely popular brew that is available nationally. What I love most about Bear Republic is their consistency and their willingness to take chances with their brews. I’m a huge fan of breweries that combine and cross different styles. Red Rocket Ale is a prime example of a beer that is rooted in a traditional style with its own spin.
“Officially” Red Rocket is a red Scottish ale that is hopped up with hops! Though it pours a nice deep red color the beer gives off a nice west coast hoppy beer aroma that is full of citrus and hops. The taste is an interesting combination of great hoppy characteristics upfront, tart hops and citrus / fruit flavors, and then the malt, an amber ale characteristic, dominates the backend. There is also an undercurrent flavor of sweet caramel but this brew is all about the hops and then malt.
This brew pairs well with big flavor food. I am grilling ribeye steaks and finishing them with a blue cheese crusted topping. The steak and the flavor impact of the cheese should pair well with the brew and it sure beats going out to dinner and overpaying just for some made up holiday!
Cheers!
Beer Stats
Style: American Amber Ale
Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 6.8%
Bitterness (IBUs): 67
Color: Nice Dark Copper that is almost pure red
Malt: Pale malt, Munich, Wheat, Caramalt, Carapils, Biscuit
Beer Review Stats
Beer Advocate: 91 and 96
Rate Beer: 98
