Redd's Apple Ale - Miller Brewing Co.

WVbeergeek

Ohio

2.14/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Here we go Redd's the commercials are funny the beer is an apple ale a combination of an ale with natural apple flavor and caramel color. Fizzy white head dwindles to nothing in no time at all, large bubbled fizzy carbonation disappears in literally no time at all, apple juice looking body. Aroma apple hand soap or shampoo with tart sliced natural apple flavoring, no real signs of beer. "It's not a cider" (in my best Arnold from Kindergarten Cop "it's not a tumor" voice, it's Redd's Apple Ale, dammit...the flavor is of stale beer and natural apples is not overwhelming nor is it beer it's pseudo cider. When I grow up I want to be made of real Fuji apples not some concentrated apple flavoring that was naturally made in a chemistry lab. Body is light with fizzy carbonation really not offensive I wish I could tell you this was as tasty as any of the Angry Orchard or more established ciders out there however, it's just not...it's a Miller fabrication brewed by Redd's Brewing Co. in Albany, GA.

Serving type: can

05-13-2013 21:29:11 | More by WVbeergeek

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

2.09/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.75

Gold color. No head at all. There was some transient fizziness. Looks like stillwater.

Smells like candy apples, Jolly Ranchers, and wet grain. Rough.

Tangy sugars, sweetened apple cider, Jolly Ranchers, hint of clove, and grain water. Sugary and obscene. Ugly Nutrasweet finish, like fake apple and aspartame. This might be beer?

Difficult to drink, nearly impossible to finish. Low carbonation and watery body. Not enough heft to even be very sticky.

Rating this as a fruit beer? What a joke.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 13:31:31 | More by thecheapies

LiquidAmber

Washington

2.44/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a Dogfish Head pint glass. Pours a pale apple juice amber with very little head, but a ring around the glass. Aroma is a light apple juice and an unidentifiable, somehwhat off-putting vegetable odor, it might be the light malt interacting to the apple in a way that I was not expecting. Flavor is mild hard apple cider mixed with light sweet malt. The same oddly flavored interaction between the malt and the apple juice flavors affects the taste as well. Light bodied. The flavor combination did not work for me, but fortunately, it is all so attenuated in flavor that it is not difficult to finish. I was also lucky that we got our first really warm day, so a cheap, light tasting 16 oz. can filled a niche in the day. I was fooled into to buying this beer from the "new" brewery "Redd's Brewing". I now know this is one the of the many BMG fake brewery names. The good news is that at least I have reviewed my first Miller product. Tick. Glad I did this one after mowing the grass, it was at least refreshing while dehydrated.

Serving type: can

05-05-2013 01:21:22 | More by LiquidAmber

teds101

California

3.53/5  rDev +32.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

At first taste, I was disgusted. But it was because I was expecting almost like a very sweet wine cooler. But I was hit instead with what tasted like somebody mixed a miller with apple juice. It takes a couple swallows to get used to the taste. After a bit the flavor starts mixing a lot better. Definitely tastes like a cider. I like the sharp feeling carbonation, making the mouth feel rating for me very high. Nothing great overall, but it's not half bad.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 03:28:44 | More by teds101

armiakhe

Michigan

3.65/5  rDev +37.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The Redd Apple Ale was a light coloring an smelled fruity especially of apples and a little kick of citrus. I liked it because it did not taste exactly like beer and it was very sweet. It had a good cider taste to it and the mothfeel was good as well.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 05:14:16 | More by armiakhe

json83

Ohio

1.66/5  rDev -37.6%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

This was another single bottle purchase I notices at Kroger. I would not buy this again because I'm not a big fan of sweet and/or fruit flavor beer and this was just that. Personally I would/could drink no more than one or two in recession. I am also unaware of the nutrients but I would imagine it would turn me further away.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 02:21:45 | More by json83

HerculesRM

South Carolina

2.09/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.25

This is not an ale. This is not a cider. It doesn't have any of the good qualities of either. It tastes like one of those Bacardi "fruit" flavored malt beverages. If you like those, this may be right up your alley. No judgement.
If I have anything good to say about it, it's that the appearance was good enough to get me to buy it. I'm glad I got it on sale. I'll keep it in the fridge for when my brother in law comes over; he'll drink anything.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 21:52:36 | More by HerculesRM

tdm168

North Carolina

3.05/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - gold with no head

S - sour apple jolly rancher

T - apple cider, a bit tart, grainy

M - light, very crisp

This is what it claims to be. It's apple through and through. It's a bit tart and tastes exactly like apple cider. It achieves what it set out to achieve, but I'll definitely pass in the future.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 00:10:54 | More by tdm168

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.43/5  rDev +28.9%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bottle into a pint glass

Appearance – The beer is a golden color with a big pure white head that forms upon pouring. The head fades super fast leaving almost no lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The aroma is very hard cider like with a strong apple juice smell mixed with just a hint of a caramel sweetness as well as a tiny amount of a bready smell.

Taste- The taste begins very sweet and of a big apple juice like flavor. There are notes of a caramel sweetness upfront as well which last till the end of the taste. While quite sweet upfront, the sweetness does fade slightly more toward the end, but still remains rather sweet leaving a very hard cider flavor to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is very crisp and light with a carbonation level that is a bit on the higher side. Both are quite appropriate for the hard apple cider flavor of the brew and make it rather crisp and refreshing.

Overall – I am not sure what part of this is actually an ale. This tastes exactly like a sweet hard cider to me. Not bad, but more sweet cider like then beer like that is for sure.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 01:25:45 | More by Darkmagus82

CloudStrife

New York

2.75/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle poured into a snifter. Best by July 22, 2013.

A: Pours a clear golden amber with no head whatsoever. Just a little bit of visible carbonation. Certainly no lacing.

S: Smells intensely of an apple cider, more of a fermented apple aroma than a fresh apple. A hint of vanilla and a lot of sweetness.

T: As anticipated this is full of apple flavor. Fairly one dimensional in flavor though. There is just a touch of yeastiness at the end. Not much malt or hopping really comes through. A sweetness permeates this beer from start to finish.

M: Different mouthfeel than a cider, not as carbonated or crisp. Seems to be little more ale like but is also a tad thin and watery.

Overall its really not as bad as I had anticipated. Refreshing for the summer but still not as good as a cider. Drink it before it warms.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 18:20:51 | More by CloudStrife

Roguer

Connecticut

2.4/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A - Apple juice. Very little carbonation, almost no bubbles. I don't think it's flat; I think it's supposed to be this way.

S - Very, very sweet apple smell. A bit of ether, a hint of oak barrel not unlike bourbon. Smells much sweeter than it actually tastes.

T - OK, I was prepared for the worst, but this was only mediocre. It tastes way, way more like a cider than a beer, for starters. It's not as sweet as the smell indicates (which is a good thing). Where the "ale" comes in is a watery, weird aftertaste. Think: apple cider -> concentrate, Redd's -> watered down.
Tart, but not as strong as a tart apple.
I'm not sure if I should rate the taste against a normal cider or a normal beer. I'm going with cider. And this doesn't make for a very good cider.

M - Very thin, a little sticky (from the sugar, no doubt). Not very pleasant.

O - OK, so I figured this would be worse than it is. It's actually drinkable, for starters, although I'll never order one. It's too sweet, FAR too sweet for a beer, but the "ale" character is very off-putting in a cider. It is fairly crisp, but it isn't really light.

Ultimately, Miller tried to make a beer with apple flavoring, and really ended up with the exact opposite. Specialized ciders don't usually go over well with my palate, and this is no exception.

If you want a cider: get a better cider. If you want a beer: don't get this. It's not so bad that I don't recommend you ever try it, but I can't say that I will get it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 23:26:21 | More by Roguer

pmcadamis

Illinois

1.48/5  rDev -44.4%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

A - Looks like apple juice. No head, no lace, and it's perfectly clear.

S - Apple Jacks cereal. Apple juice. Red apple peel.

T - Super sweet apple juice. This tastes absolutely nothing like beer, or even hard cider for that matter. This just tastes like artificially sweetened apple juice out of a little kid's box with a pokey straw.

M - Sugary and tart. Thirst quenching at first (I had this after my big Saturday morning long run) but then cloyingly sweet.

Pass. Why is this even considered beer? If you want something like this, go with a higher-end apple cider or perry, not this apple flavored "ale."

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 20:45:02 | More by pmcadamis

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

2.46/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a bottle into a shaker pint, the beer is a bright, straw coloring with no head and a ton of carbonation bubbling. Aromas of apple sweetness, with not much else behind it. Cloying, oversweet nose. Flavors of apple tart and sweetness, with a slide unbalance to the sweet side. Leans itself more towards a cider than an ale based on the palate. The aftertaste is slightly spiced with light cinnamon, but the apple tart and sweetness overtakes anything as you drink. Sweet, cloying finish that is lightened by the carbonation. The sweetness builds as you drink, which can overpower and make this beer difficult to session.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 03:46:19 | More by GarthDanielson

JMad

Texas

2.49/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.5

The beer pours a normal macro pale yellow color with an almost non-existant white head. It smells like a regular light beer with lots of adjunct and a hint of apple. Tastes like someone poured apple juice in my keystone light, that's about it on the flavor. It has a light feel with moderate carbonation and a slightly dry finish. Well, I could drink more of these, but wouldn't really want to. The guy that owns my local beer store suckered me into to buying the 16oz can.

Serving type: can

04-06-2013 00:10:13 | More by JMad

SteveMcGlone

Ohio

2.41/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 2

Did a blind taste test at work between this Redd's Apple Ale and The Shock Top Honeycrisp Apple Wheat. The Shock Top dominated.

Appearance: The Redd's looks very nice both in the bottle and poured into a glass. Although in a glass it looks exactly like a sparkling wine.

Smell: Maybe i'm partial due to my affinity for apple aromas, but I really liked the smell of Redd's Apple Ale. It has a sweet but very dry smell to it, but don't get too close, it is heavily carbonated almost like a soda.

Taste: I was disappointed in the taste. After the buildup from the appearance and smell I was getting excited for such a great flavor but was let down. The Redd's has a very artificial apple flavor and it is quickly washed away by a dry bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Again, disappointed. It is heavily carbonated and thin feeling. There is no presence of a head at all and the thin-ness quickly washes away any artificial apple flavor and leaves behind a bitter chemical-like taste.

Overall: I was excited about it and hyped up due to the positive appearance and smell but it stops there. If you are looking for a beer to look at and smell without the intention of drinking it, I would definitely recommend Redd's.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 19:57:38 | More by SteveMcGlone

Das_Reh

Florida

1.25/5  rDev -53%
look: 1 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.25

Drunk straight from a 16 oz. Can from a local Tom Thumb

Appearance - I was upset to see on the can that artificial caramel color was added. The color was a light golden tan and was crystal clear. Lots of carbonation at first that quickly dissipated, leaving no head at all. I was hardly surprised.

Smell - Lightly sweet apples and nothing more. Not unpleasant at all, but the lack of any beer-like aroma left me hesitant to try it. I knew the brew was going to be sweet, but how much so?

Taste - The taste was heavily of apples; far too sweet (like a sparkling apple juice), tart, and artificial (despite the can saying "natural flavors") and overpowers a weak malt flavor. I tried several times to search for other flavor notes but found only cheap apple cider and weak-sauce macro brew. The finish is sour, boozy and unpleasant. I was disappointed that it didn't have ANY bitterness or real malt flavor at all. If this IS beer, it's beer for people who don't like beer. Completely unbalanced, too sweet, and artificial.

Mouthfeel - Fizzy, thin, and watery.

Overall - I may be new to tasting beer... in fact I've only had about 10 or so different varieties... but even I can tell you that this should not be a beer. It shouldn't be a hard cider either; it's an awkward amalgamation of cheap cider and macro brew that does not mix or balance well. Whatever beer taste may exist is overshadowed by the taste of artificial apple. As a rule of thumb I don't buy any brew that has commercials, and this only strengthens that guideline all the more. But hey, when they're on special "2 for $3.33", what did I expect? My cousin had the other and swears it's the best beer he's ever had, but then again he's accustomed to cheap macros and sweet malt beverages.

Thoroughly disappointed, will not buy or drink again. Shame on you Miller for tricking me into buying a nasty hard cider.

Serving type: can

03-25-2013 05:31:27 | More by Das_Reh

dbrauneis

New Jersey

2.08/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 2.5

A: Pours a crystal clear light to medium golden yellow in color (not dissimilar to Mott's Apple Juice) with some light orange highlights and moderate to heavy amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a very thin sudsy off-white head that reduces to nothing almost instantly. No lacing is observed.

S: Light to moderate aromas of apple juice with light amounts of sweetness.

T: Upfront it has the sweetness of apple juice with moderate apple flavors, underneath which is the very slight hint of malts though it is fairly buried and fades instantly. Maybe some extremely light hints of caramel. No bitterness is detected, this is lightly sweet like apple juice and seltzer.

M: Light bodied with heavy amounts of carbonation. Very thin/watery.

O: Not sure why this is not a cider or malt beverage (like Smirnoff Ice) as this tastes and smells just like apple juice without the slightest hint of alcohol. I would likely never have another one of these as it seems like it is not a beer at all - even though they market it as a beer with the crispness of apples. Very easy to drink and I could see this being dangerous to folks how get it knowing they do not like beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 21:50:32 | More by dbrauneis

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

3.45/5  rDev +29.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Redd’s Apple Ale has a thin, white, fizzy head, which dies right away, no lacing, and a very bubbly, clear, golden appearance (think apple juice). The aroma is much like an inexpensive, sparkling apple wine, and the taste is the same. One does pick up the slightest shade of barley malt in this, but bitterness is nonexistent. Mouthfeel is light and watery, and Redd’s Apple Ale finishes crisp, fairly refreshing, and drinkable. It is more lager-like than ale-like, really. For what it is (and, that’s a style I don’t particularly like), I rate it as "good" (or a "B"). If you like flavored beer, you’ll probably like it. If you don’t, you probably won’t be thrilled with it.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 14:42:29 | More by RonaldTheriot

spokes100

New York

1/5  rDev -62.4%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

bought six pack at convience store, $9.00!!!

pale color, NO foam, carbonated like soda, tastes like a sweet apple, very artificial.

this brew seems to have a confused identity. I tried it very cold and it is more like a pale favored ale, tried it european style, 55 degrees, more like a cider. did not sense any complex flavors either way, seems to be over powered by an apple flavor. the flavor is very artificial.

my girlfriend says it tastes more like an apple wine cooler than a beer. I agree.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 18:13:31 | More by spokes100

hosehead83

Ohio

1.88/5  rDev -29.3%
look: 2.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 1.5

Poured from a clear 12oz. bottle into a standard pint glass.
Pale gold in color, with a soft-drink like effervescence that leaves the fastet fading head of thin foam that I have ever seen, leaving what appears to be a glass of apple juice.
Aroma-Faint apple juice
Taste-More apple juice. Cloyingly sweet, off-putting imitation of a beer. Is this supposed to be a cider? It fails in either attempt. Could not manage more than a few sips.
I know, I know "On a hot day..." Sorry I'd rather have a chilled glass of real apple juice. Avoid.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 16:49:04 | More by hosehead83

Mumps

Maryland

2.74/5  rDev +3%
look: 2.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5

My brother in law bought some, assured me it was amazing. I always take what he says about beers with a grain of salt due to him not truly liking beer.

Color- A pale amber/yellowish color. Think apple juice.

Smell-Again apple juice, with a hint of beer like sent hidden in there somewhere.

Taste-Didn't taste terrible. In fact my first thought was that it went down a little too easy. I can see someone getting very drunk, very quick because you can pound these down with out noticing.

Mouthfeel- Definitely left wanting. Very thin, even apple juice might have a bit more umpf than that.

Overall, an average/slightly less than average brew. I might not turn one down when offered, but I seriously doubt I'll ever buy it myself. If I am looking for the apple flavor, I'll stick to Woodchuck or Angry Orchard.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 01:43:33 | More by Mumps

atr2605

New York

1.26/5  rDev -52.6%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.25 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 1.25

A-looks like apple juice, has zero head and therefore zero retention
S-apple, caramel, and a displeasing off scent that I can't quite place
T-Its like a watered down apple juice mixed with a macro brew.
M-light and watery
O-not good. Its a watery apple mess that has neither good beer or fruit flavor. Not even worth trying

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 02:27:01 | More by atr2605

ko21361

1.44/5  rDev -45.9%
look: 1.25 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.25

Got this after drinking a few real beers at a bar after work with a friend. Asked the bartender what else they had available in bottles - the last thing he listed was Redd's. Well, I've seen those commercials for a little while and I'm not an enemy of apples (think about Applejack or other hard ciders), so I figured I would give it a try.

First warning sign: the bartender told me to let him "know if I didn't like it and [he] will get me something else at no extra charge."

Appearance in the bottle was of a darker apple juice color. A few bubbles in the neck of the bottle. Smell was of...apple juice, or perhaps apple juice that sat out a little long...

I took a few sips and mulled it over for a bit before looking at the bartender and saying, "what I am drinking in this bottle has nothing to do with beer." He agreed wholeheartedly. The taste is pretty much just that of a slightly carbonated applejuice, with the tiniest sour/fermented hints.

I personally do not enjoy apple juice, and this "ale" left me with a sweet, kind of grainy apple taste in my mouth. Nothing really exciting in the flavor profile outside of an initial burst of...apple juice flavor.

I give this a 1.25 overall because it doesn't taste terrible. I can see non-beer drinkers or people who opt for sweet, gross mixed drinks when they go out giving Redd's a try and enjoying it. As for everyone else, skip it and go for a hard cider or something if you are looking for an apple fix.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 01:08:42 | More by ko21361

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

1/5  rDev -62.4%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

12oz bottle served in a standard pint glass.

L - clear yellow color with some white fizz that fades fast, there are lots of bubbles in the glass at first but they go away after a minute or two.

S - it smells like apple juice.

T - I imagine this is what you'd taste if you mixed apple juice and zima.

F - fizzy feel.

O - not enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 01:43:42 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

jfairbaugh

1.33/5  rDev -50%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

I've seen so much advertising (even got a cardboard carton in the mail with bottle opener) that I had to try it. PIcked 1 up at a local Total Wine for tasting sake.

I poured it into a clear pint glass from a bottle.

It's poured a clear-ish apple juice color with almost no head, and zero retention. It's almost a stretch to say that it had any head at all.

The smell was also close to non-existent, with a (very) faint cider-y smell.

As far as taste, , I might describe it an apple juice/ginger ale combo where the apple juice had gone slightly sour. It's very apple-y (as can be expected), but it wasn't well balanced with the rest of the elements. Up front it's very much like a carbonated apple juice (think martinelli's sparkling) but with sour undertones. No hops or malt flavors to be mentioned.

Light, very carbonated, and sort of sour towards the back end.

Overall, very unimpressive, and not very refreshing. If you want sparkling apple juice, there are much better options than this. If you want beer, this isn't going to do it for you.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 02:47:10 | More by jfairbaugh