Thomas Hooker Irish Style Red Ale

Brewed by Thomas Hooker Brewing Company
Style: Irish Ale
Bloomfield, Connecticut USA

A great beer from a great brewery. This is probably my favorit Thomas Hooker Beer that is available regularly in 6-packs. If your in New England and are looking for something local and great tasting try this Connecticut Original. You will not be disappointed. The beer itself has a great red color, without looking like cough med. (beamish red). The tast is smooth. A great beer.

A great session Irish Red ale; slightly sweet, easy drinking, classic to the style. Another fine beer from Thomas Hooker.

Draught pint, 12/20/2005, at Sunset Grille. Deeper than expected, lightly transluscent ruby-auburn with chestnut-rufous (to steal a word) highlights on the edges. Foamy cream colored head atop is well retained and laces ever so slightly. Aroma has a deep and ponderous roast. Toasted grains of caramel and even a slight hint of vanilla flavored coffee. Husky vienna-like malts and a sweet, almost honeyish-like note arising on the end, to sooth the nostrils. Certainly some light hops, herbal and fresh that rise gently, but persistently from the liquid. The flavor is immediately toasty, with plenty of caramel and a distinct nuttiness, adding a playful chewy texture, while hops brighten the picture with a crisp and leafy balance. All the while, a honey-vanilla malt sweetness lingers in the background and adds potent, supportive body and a lightly creamy texture. Carbonation is low, and deep earthy barley, hints of light coffee and more herbs pepper the palate. I keep speaking of coffee, but it’s not as one would expect, certainly no dark roasty coffeeness from a stout, but it’s there, well-integrated with the earthiness, almost like a peaty-whiskey note you get in some scotch ales. No skimping on the malt or hops and a wonderfully round and succulent mouthfeel. This beer has to be experienced on draught, as do the pale and blonde, as the contract brewed bottles, while well-made don’t do Paul’s talents justice.

On tap at Willmantic brewing co. on May 18, 2003. Arrived looking almost as dark as my buddy's Ipswich oatmeal stout, with a little white island of head floating in the dark sea. Looks red through the light. Color is great. Aroma is malty and sweet, with very little hops (could be the glacier IPA I just had) Smells as if it has a decent body. Flavor is nice and malty, with a little yeasty chewiness. I can't detect much in the way of hops. Very drinkable and very pleasant. Dry finish. Carbonation is low to moderate. Well done.

Draft at Hot Tomatoes in Hartford. Very nice looking pour. Deep crimson with a very soft looking head. The lace was adequate. Somewhat light aroma, although I did drink this one on the outdoor patio, so that may have something to do with the light aroma. Very deep mouthfeel for a red ale. Lots of toasted malts to balance a crisp hoppiness. There’s a bit of caramel and molasses sweetness to balance off the hop bitter, but the toastiness really puts this one over the top in my mind. That familiar Thomas Hooker earthiness is also there in spades. Very enjoyable brew.

On cask NERAX ’04: Dark amber, fizzy white head. Big sweet caramel malts, creamy body, starts a bit sweet and ends sweeter. Yummy.

On tap. Deep dark red brown with a smooth light tan head. Served WAY too cold, so I had to be patient and let it warm up. Subtle nose. Sweet malts developes. Caramel and chocolate to some extent. Not watery. A bit on the smoother fuller side for sessions. A big ass sweetness here. Goes really well with food though. Caramel malt sweetness dominates. Some darker malt aspects. Toffee. Chocolate to some extent. A little bit of floral hops. Well done really. Lingering woody toast. Though I don’t like toasty beers, it works here.

Pours a clear darker amber ruby. Nose is metallic and kind of nut-like. Flavor is deep and consistent. Carries a real earthy and slightly leafy character. On the end there is a sweet tone with a touch of light caramel to it. Feel is kind of sticky on the liquid and the bubble is low on the mouth. Overall very drinkable. Smooth and even and a good one to enjoy.