First sip is a complex and good one. It is a strong malt (which is very odd for a red ale) with the same spices and hops as I smelled before. The beer is not so complex as to not be good while sipping, but I can tell that there is more to this beer that will be brought out when it is properly swigged.
Tip-in is medium carbonation burn with the sweet malt and some spices with maybe even some coriander helping things out. The tip-in is simple enough. The middle approaches with a biting with a combination of the spices and carbonation, but it's actually more of a love nibble. With the malt swelling, the whole effect is tamped down to be abrasive, but it's not negatively so. The finish is a very nice retard of the swelling and the caramel and hops dance their way into the sunset with brown sugar and some nuts trailing.
Bottom Line: A surprisingly delicious take on an old favorite.
4.0/5