Bend Axe Head Red Ale

Brewed by Bend Brewing Company
Style: Amber Ale
Bend, Oregon USA

Draft at the Brewpub: Rusty brown pour with a moderate beige head. Nose is mild and of malt, caramel, and has an overt sweetness. The taste is more malty, some rye, earth tones, and citrus. It was on nitro; very smooth. I think this may boost my feelings on this one.

Decent, and well balanced to boot. This has a great toasted toffee and caramel flavor, with some nice citric acitidy and piney hops to round it out. Super easy to drink, truly a great session beer.

(Draft: Bend Brewing Company in Bend, OR) A special release with proceeds going to Bend’s sister city in Nicaragua for their fire department, this seems big and malty enough for a fireman. But why is it that every beer for a firefighter’s charity is a red ale? Anyway, this smells very close to their Old Ale, sweet, caramely, fruity, and malty, but with a fair amount of toastiness, and low on the hops. Sweet, caramely and malty flavor is balanced by a moderate bitterness in the finish. Medium bodied, with a clean, but sustantial palate. Deep ruddy amber color. Light tan head fades to a ring, but leaves some patchy lacing on the glass. Not as good as the Old Ale, but plenty good enough.