The brew of choice for mountain bikers, and adventurous types worldwide. (Are you excited now!) This fiery red ale is not for the weak at heart. It originally started out as a Scottish red ale but has taken on flavors of its own. This is a very complex recipe using five different grains to achieve its unique flavor. The caramel malt used is a mixture of Belgian Caravienne and Hugh Bairds Crystal malts. Red Rocket is a full bodied, hoppy brew which finishes on the pallet with caramel malts. Centennial and Cascade hops are used for bittering and aroma.2004 L.A. Commercial Brewing Competition, Gold Medal Winner; 2004 West Coast Commercial Brewers Competition, First Place; 2003 California State Fair, Gold MedalWinner; 2002 California State Fair, Silver Medal Winner; 2001 California State Fair Gold Medal Winner; 2001 Real Ale Festival, Chicago, Bronze Medal Winner; 2000 California State Fair, Bronze Medal Winner; 1999 Great American Beer Festival, Silver Medal Winner; 1998 Great American Beer Festival, Silver Medal Winner - og 1.067, ABV 6.8%, IBU 65+.
Beer Ratings and Reviews:
[1] Review by kinger from North Canton, OH, USA who has tried this beer many times. (7/14/2008 1:50:22 PM)
"This beer is a gem, fantastic in all categories. Pours an opaque mahogany/dark brown color with a thick tan head and plenty of lacing. Aroma is a strong blend of grapefruit, citrus and burnt malts including hints of strawberries and black licorice. Sharp, malty mouth feel that quickly becomes pleasantly bitter. Full bodied with a smooth harshness. Intense and complex flavors with an upfront hop medley of pine and citrus. Musty-sweet toasted malts develop into a complexity of plums, coffee, toast, and molasses. Then the hops show up again in a longing aftertaste. This beer is a great marriage of styles, and it's done in a wonderful fashion. "
Aroma:
9/10
Appearance:
8/10
Mouthfeel:
8/10
Flavor:
9/10
Overall:
9/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(4.3)
Sampled: Bottle Sample Size: 12oz @ $1.67 Unit Cost: $2.23 per Pint
[2] Review by changeup45 from Florida, USA who has tried this beer a couple times. (7/11/2008 10:15:06 PM)
"Pours a deep amber-brown color with a frothy head that fades to patches. Aroma is smoky and a little fruity with traces of malts and hops. The aroma is somewhat subtle but a complex scent. The flavors up front are roasted malts and oak with bitter fruity hops hitting the palate on the back end providing a nice well-rounded taste. Gets a bit more toasty as it warms. Very nice and easy drinking. Re-rate 9/27/08 courtesy of zythum. Not a whole lot that needs to be added. The smoked-roasted malty flavor with a generous dose of bitter hops make this thing really tasty. A couple minor adjustments in the ratings. I really like this one. "
Aroma:
8/10
Appearance:
8/10
Mouthfeel:
8/10
Flavor:
9/10
Overall:
9/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(4.2)
Sampled: Bottle Sample Size: 12oz @ $2.1 Unit Cost: $2.8 per Pint
[3] Review by jerrymorrison from lockhart, TX, USA who has tried this beer once. (5/21/2008 10:34:35 AM)
"Another good beer from B.R. it poured a dark reddish brown with an incredibly thick, lasting tan head, good lacing. Aroma and tastes of citrus and hops, sweet malts, and caramel. slightly dry, alcohol was noticeable but not overwhelming. Good soild brew."
Aroma:
7/10
Appearance:
7/10
Mouthfeel:
7/10
Flavor:
7/10
Overall:
7/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.5)
Sampled: Bottle Sample Size: 12oz @ $4.2 Unit Cost: $5.6 per Pint
[4] Review by Phishpond417 from Madtown, Wisc, USA who has tried this beer once. (5/14/2008 11:11:58 PM)
"And strong it is! Another winner from Bear Republic. Pours a dark dark reddish-opaque-copper colour with a nice billowing fluffy almond coloured head. Lacing is awesome- evidence! A reminder something grand was once in that glass. Aroma is genuine- cascade hops, pomegranate and pine. Taste is equally pleasent with dirrrrty, gritty, earthy, hoptastic flava- redruM, blindfolded majestic wonderchildren dancing carelessly throughout my early morning water sprinkler. Red rocket monster sprocket. woowee. "
Aroma:
8/10
Appearance:
7/10
Mouthfeel:
8/10
Flavor:
7/10
Overall:
8/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.8)
Sampled: Bottle Sample Size: 22oz @ $3.99 Unit Cost: $2.9 per Pint
[5] Review by Sap from Tucson, AZ, USA who has tried this beer a couple times. (2/28/2008 11:03:02 PM)
"Pours with a frothy, three finger thick, lightly browned, tan colored head. The beer is a dark, concentrated plum, amber hued color that shows a brilliantly clear, cranberry hued color when held up to the light. This beer is quite hop focused, I don't get any malt at all upon first inspection of the aroma. Aromas of grapefruit, freshly zested lemon peel, bergamot, tangelo, orange zest and some light pine / herbal notes. The malt is here, it does in fact play an integral role here with aromas of richly caramelized malt and toasty browned biscuit notes.
This beer has a chewy body, that has a medium heft to it, yet it is not very sweet. The ample hop character and darker malt notes seem to inhibit the malt sweetness. Bracingly bitter from the get go, the biting hop character lingers on through to a long finish. The hop flavors here are influenced heavily by the lack of sweetness; the vibrant fruit notes of the aroma are fairly subtle here, instead flavors of pine, menthol, and a deep herbal note are what is most noticeable. There is some light notes of grapefruit, and perhaps a touch of orange towards the end where a touch of malt sweetness is able to come through. The finish has the hop bitterness as well as a sharp, herbal hop astringency and even a touch of toasted, darker grain note. The malt character, while clearly a supporting role, adds a nice dimension to this brew; toasty malt and bread-like flavors as well as a richly caramelized, yet not sweet malt character.
A pretty tasty brew, I wish that there was a bit more residual malt sweetness to this brew; a solid citrus hop character would have been really nice. This is actually slightly tart as a result of the lack of sweetness; this is not bone dry though, there is just not enough malt sweetness to stand up to the hops."
Aroma:
8/10
Appearance:
8/10
Mouthfeel:
6/10
Flavor:
7/10
Overall:
7/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.6)
Sampled: Bottle Sample Size: 22oz @ $0 Unit Cost: $0 per Pint
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(4.3)
