Hereford & Hops Cleary Red

Brewed by Hereford & Hops Restaurant & Brew Pub
Style: Irish Ale
Escanaba, Michigan USA

On tap at the brewery/restaurant in Escanaba. Clearish amber-copper body, thin-medium buff head. Very light aroma (served at a frigid temperature), cerealy, sweet, and earthy. Fruity Cheerios sweetness, almost berry-like, accompanied by earthy, dry hops. Caramely. Pretty good Irish Ale. It’s always nice to find a good craft version of this often overlooked style.

I’m clearly going against the grain here, but I actually thought this was pretty good. This actually reminded me a good bit of Portland Brewing Co’s McTarnahan Amber. The color was a deep red, almost like a Killian’s (I mean that in a good way). Aroma was primarily malty, and flavor was a bit unbalanced (in favor of the malt, versus the hops that were present), but hops were clearly present and counteracting a rather pleasant sweet maltiness. Mouthfeel was unremarkable. All-in-all, I’d recommend giving this beer a try. I bought a 22 oz bottle at Trig’s in Eagle River, WI.

Thanks again to Skyview. Red color with a faint nose. Light grainy body with not a lot going on.

Another from Skyview. Light malt aroma. Red color, and a light roasty character with no discernible hop presence. Not offensive but uninspired and boring.

Again, thanks to Skyview. Dark copper color with a medium head. The aroma is oddly orangy. Interesting for an Irish Ale. Very musty malt taste, like walking into a room that hasn’t seen fresh air in a few years. Not bad, not great.

Picked up a sigle 22 oz bottle at Trig’s in Wausau, WI. Pours a reddish amber brew with an off-white head that dissolves quickly. Nice lacing. Aroma has scents of roasted barley malt, apples, pears, and a touch of caramel. Flavor is lightly carbonated, medium body and mild bitterness. Finish is clean, crisp, and a nutty aftertaste. Much better than the bottled White Tail Ale.

This is listed as an irish red ale at the bar. On tap at the H&H at Cranberry near Pittsburgh. Pours a reddish. orange, orange orange. This seems to be one of H&H’s favorite recipes. I see its at all their places. Nice creamy head. Sweet perfumy flowery aroma but it is not overwelming. I can appreciate this smell, very nice. Not even a mild bitterness on the first taste. Very well behaved. After a few hits a slight bitterness does begin to grow. Does seem just a teeny bit watered down, but just barely. I would think this beer would appeal to someone new in departing from the pale yellow american beer. It is different enough to spur curiosity but not bold enough to warrant a complaint. Not offensive enough to scare away the macro drinker. Finish is smooth interesting and repeatable.

Sampled on draft at the Cranberry Twp PA location this beer poured a medium reddish amber color with a small white head. The aroma is sweet and lightly malty. The flavor is sour, nutty malts with a sharp floral hop presence on the finish.