McNeills Ruby Ale

Brewed by McNeills Brewery
Style: Amber Ale
Brattleboro, Vermont USA

Fizzy light red beer, with a soapy head that quickly shrinks to a small lace - farily strong, dry-hop nose, with notes of butterscotch (no, not diacytl), some hints of cherry and grapefruit - full carbonation in the mouth - strongly hopped, with crisp herbal notes up front, followed by caramel and chewy, bready malts, vanilla, oak - hop bitterness comes back to the fore, and the beer dries out again, leaving fresh, grassy hops lingering on the tongue for a loooooong time - not a great beer, but it’s pretty tasty.

On tap at McNeill’s. Mild caramel and a bit of buttterscotch, with no hoppiness in the nose. Overall, a mild aroma hut pleasant. Clear dark amber orange, with thin off-white lacing head. Medium watery body with medium carbonation. Starts with mild maltiness but with a predominant bitterness that has a nice fruity hoppy kick behind it. A bit of cooked vegetable in the finish, too, unfortunately. After is dry and bitter, but not harsh at all. Decent ale, but perhaps wasn’t at its prime tonight.

Bottle from trade. Pours deep coppery ruby with 1-finger off-white head. Aroma of caramel malt, cabernet, some hops and berries. Medium to dense, very complex palate with flavors of caramel malt, some vinous fruit, hops. The hops get more intense asi t warms. I’d call this an imperial red. Whatever you call it, it is great.

Robe cuivrée claire surmontée d’une mousse blanche mince. Arômes de pamplemousse. Saveurs de pamplemousse et de malt caramélisé.

Served as a "Ruby Red" at the brewpub, therefore I was anticipating a red ale, or something irish. Boy was I suprised. Immediately the hop profile on the nose alerted me that this was no generic red ale. The look fit the bill, dark for an IPA. Taste was very nice, almost a cross between a american hop blast and a nuanced english pale. One of the more drinkable IPAs I have enjoyed. Again, for $3 a pint, damn, can you get any better?

Not sure i would call this an IPA. It’s nice and bubbly, and very fresh tasting. Great color, smooth taste, and easy to drink. The price is right for me.

Interesting beer considering how poorly designed the packaging is. Amber in color with a decent head. Lots of dirty hops and somewhat citrusy. Lots of malt, I don’t think that this is really an IPA. Good, nonetheless.

weird packaging, confuses my eyes. very hoppy aroma, dark red/hazelnut color. smells so much like the hops plant actually. something about this is unusual, it’s really dry for an IPA. it’s really good though. surprisingly carbonated.