Red ales are a hard nut to crack. The problem is that they are so mild that you may as well grab a lager that will likely have a fuller body and a wider flavor profile. Blackhorse made an excellent IPA, and maybe they can make this red ale something extra special.
The beer is red enough for government work, but the more pedantic people out there may say that it is more amber than red. The head seems like it will be big enough to be an issue at first, but it calms quickly and dissipates almost entirely, leaving a thin ring on the sides and numerous points of nucleation abounding in the depths. The aroma is vague wort and fresh bread malt with caramel promises.First sip is nutty and not bad, but I am reminded of just how uninspiring a red ale can be. They lack panache and spunk. Instead, the beer is left with a lazy, good enough attitude. This is just fine in the right setting, mind you. With the mere 5.2% ABV, you could reasonably nurse these all night and not have to worry about getting too tipsy or having a hangover the next day. This would pair well with salty foods, but standalone is... meh.
Bottom Line: Meh
2.0/5