Rock Bottom Erik the Red Ale

first RB beer I’ve had critically. we got a yard of it - wayyy too much. super malty. pretty close to a red/amber ale, i’m surprised it’s a lager. tons of sweet flavor, eventually it got cloying, but not during the first pint so i can’t penalize for that. pretty in red, i didn’t take notes so i dont really remember the aroma, but i had a good impression of the beer overall so it was probably good. 3.1 score is a shame.

I think this beer is really good. Quite hoppy and citrusy with a lot of malt. Pretty darned good.

Charlotte NC Randolph’s Ride Red Ale-on tap-pours a tan head that laces with red color. Aroma is sweet malt, hops. Taste is nicely balanced sweet malt & hops. Mild carbonation.

Fresh hop nose with some honey, reddish amber color. Quick toasted malt, caramelly too. Hops - yes - fairly strong bitter. Balance off - too grassy bitter.

Sampled at Rock Bottom in Chicago. Nice light copper color and a medium head that leaves laces. Very light hoppy nose. Medium intense hoppiness in the beginning- with a medium roasted malt finish.

On tap at Rock Bottom Chicago. Transparant, orangish red coloring with a small, almost non-existant ring of white head. The aromas aren’t unpleasant, but are very mind-numbingly typical: Some sweet maltiness accompanies a light grassy hoppiness. Thin, watery texture, but the light caramely flavors are well balanced with the gentle mown lawn hoppiness. Clean finish.

On tap at Rock Bottom - Chicago location. Reddish amber color. Fruity sweetness in the nose. Weak in body with mild sweet malt flavoring and a gentle touch of hops. Not too bad.

Minneapolis location, draught sampler. Essentially no taste, and nothing else to really recommend it. One of the weakest in the sampler.