Red Ales are not something that you see everyday, but I have to admit I really like them when they are done well and they are good refreshing beer that suits colder weather which is what we have at the moment in Meloburne, Australia.
So when I found a couple of Australian examples in the bottleshop I thought why not and picked them up to give them a try.
First up in the Pacfic Red by 3 Ravens which is a local brewery from only about 10km up the road - it's actually one of the pioneers of craft beer in Australia and used to concentrate of old european styles, and had a Edgar Allan Poe type gothic feel to it's branding. It has changed a lot over the journey and chases fads and doesn't look like it used to, but they still make good beer so I'm excited by this.
As you can see the branding on the can is now all 70's psychedelic weirdness.. The beer pours a very deep reddish brown with a dense light tan head. It Smells of sweet stone fruit paw paw maybe, similar to a american style pale ale, but a little sweeter. Carbonation is a little on the fizzy side for my liking so it's masking a bit of the taste. But it very nicely balanced, solid malt backbone with a hint of sweetness and then hops, towards the fruity end and not too aggressive. Overall this is a new world American inspired, Australian hopped red ale and it's Very very drinkable.
The second beer to try couldn't be more different. It's from a brewery called Forest for the Trees which is a offshoot of Australia's largest craft brewery Stone and Wood and is brewed by Brad Roger's who is one of the most important brewers in Australia having worked at Little creatures, Matilda Bay and then started Stone and Wood. To put this in American terms it would like if one person was the head brewer that Samuel Adams, then Sierra Nevada and then went and started Lagunitas or Dogfish head - he's pretty important (and I assume rich)
The beer itself is a barrel aged Red ale and it promises to be more of a flanders style red ale. On opening the classic heavy champagne style bottle it has very soured yeasty smell. it's very effervescent in the pouring but a head that dies in seconds, likely over productive Bacteria.
The taste is very subtle, it's there but it's a folk band playing music to hold hands to, not a rock band blasting out the hits. There is a little horsiness, a little bit of cherry sweetness and a little tartness but it's all just so subtle. Not unpleasant at all but just not quite there enough for me.
So there we have it two Red Ale, very different to eachother - and that's one of the things I love about beer, That it can take on some many different styles. So why not read about everyone's beer jounery with #Beersaturday, organised by 