Ruedrich's Red Seal Ale - North Coast Brewing Co.

beerman207

Kentucky

4.22/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this in a growler from my favorite party store. I saw some good reviews so decided to give it a shot. This beer was quite good.

A - Cooper color, no real head to speak of, very little lacing and some swirling left behind once the head (what little there was) disappeared.

Smell - Got some fruit in there but overall pretty subdued

Taste - has some fruit tones in there and I can't put my finger on what they are but it's present. Very crisp taste. Very enjoyable.

Mouthfeel - Very smooth with light carbonation

Drinakability - Since I got this in a growler (got it half full), I anticipate finishing it. It's definately a sessionable brew.

Overall, I'm ery pleased with this beer.

Serving type: growler

03-22-2009 01:59:34 | More by beerman207

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.47/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Filled a growler at Papago Brewing in Scottsdale, AZ. The red color of this beer really comes out in a growler, which is pretty cool, but lightens up as it goes into a pint glass and becomes more of a golden-orange.
A - Golden-orange w/ a bubbly, foamy off-white head.
S - Vibrant fruits come out in the nose first, followed by subtle hops & sweet malt.
T - The ripe summer fruits and hops come together so well, with a smooth, sweet malty finish and a nice bitterness. The carbonation is perfect, creating the right crispness without having too much pop in the mouth. A nice change from overly hoppy Pale Ales.
M - The sweet malt and subtle hops stick to the mouth and coat it with a fresh feeling and the carbonation isn't overbearing at all.
D - Are you kidding? I would drink the whole growler tonight if I didn't want to save some for another time. I know North Coasts' flagship brew is Old Rasputin, but this beer is the most drinkable and well-rounded beer in their lineup. I'm glad I have a growler of Red Seal, b/c this is now one of my favorite Pale Ales.

Serving type: growler

03-18-2007 07:10:46 | More by Gatch

Ego

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

$10 for a growler over @ andy's corner bar in bogota nj.... yum

eyes...
surprisingly a little hazy, amber hue, rises up to 2 full fingers and settles down to one full finger.. and then it holds.. and holds... and holds... lots of lacing.. what a great looking APA... scores well in all optical realms.

nose...
northwest hop goodness, propbably cascade but I'm not sure, some sweetness from the malt base. all in all a solid but not outstanding nose, it smells clean and fresh... but I have smelled much better APAs...

taste etc...
slightly prickly carbonation, the sweetness of the malt tries to hold back the lovely bitter rush of hops.. but the malt is not enough and a gentle tidal wave (yeah.. that makes sense right ego? ya putz...) of hoppy goodness ensues. In it's wake is a pleasant bitterness but not overly bitter or overly lingering. The feel is not quite light and not quite medium.. in a way spot on for easy drinking.

verdict?
always one of my faves for the warmer months. I actually think I prefer it out of the bottle however. still.. another winner from north coast.

Serving type: growler

06-13-2006 02:15:19 | More by Ego

Stimack

New York

4.1/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Got a growler of this last evening. More or less just got it on a whim, as I wanted to try something that I have not had before on tap. Luckily I was not disappointed in the least. The color of the beer in the growler was a amber/orange color. When poured from the growler a nice head was formed that was the color of off white hedging on a tan color. Had a good retention leaving lacing around the sides of the glass. The aroma is very nice, citrus and floral hop smell. Definitely can pick up the grapefruit like esters. Also has a nice malt scent of caramel malt that is noticeable, as the hop scent does not seem to be overpowering. Brew has a very smooth taste; nice amount of hop flavoring is noticeable and does leave some of its essence on your tongue. While the hops is most noticeable they don’t seem to dominate as I am able to clearly pick up the balancing of the malts that lead to a somewhat caramel flavor. Over all this was a fantastic brew, one that I can/could drink a fair amount off. The growler was gone quite quickly! Will look for this one again in the future.

Serving type: growler

03-05-2006 13:15:48 | More by Stimack

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3.74/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy amber color with a small foamy and frothy head. Gentle carbonation.
Aroma finds mostly malts, caramel and bicuit predominitely some hops but very sutle.
Taste is a malt bomb with biscuit malts and vienna malts too me. hops come into play at the end and only lightly.
Nothing to stand up and yell about here, your basic amber beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 11:22:50 | More by micromaniac129

themind

New Jersey

4.01/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Underrated for the style! this is a quality brew that several years back won many awards. It's easy to get which makes me think that is why the rating is only in the 80's. That said it pours a nice head, amber color with good crisp carbonation. I am not saying this brew is an elite classic but it is pretty good.

Bottom Line: Shelf beer worth your time.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 02:35:36 | More by themind

andrewjraab

Michigan

4.13/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A. Copper / red with pillow like head with some decent lace.

S. predominantly malty with some citrus and floral hop layers.

T. Rich malts finely balanced with crisp hop that snaps on the tongue.

O. Incredibly easy drinking red ale. This will become a staple in the fridge.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 03:28:32 | More by andrewjraab

Brenden

Ohio

4.4/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

This beer is a coppery color given the clarity, pretty much and even orange-red. It forms a nearly white head that grows to about one finger tall with some good retention. Lacing is patchy and fairly plentiful with a bit of legging as well.
The aroma is very nicely balanced and offers a great hoppy bouquet along with a strong malt backbone. There's a bit more of a fruits, citrus and otherwise, in the mix of sweet and bitter. In the flavor, the bitterness turns a bit more raw without going too pithy, giving off a flavor of orange and lemon rind, and for added complexity the hops bring out a bit of a spicy nip. This is a stronger, though very sessionable, more flavorful beer than I had expected.
Malts bring out a creamy smoothness that works with the hops oils and the carbonation to balance with a crisp bite in a medium body for a very good feel overall, making it even more of a surprise and a pleasure to drink.
In a great tasting lineup, this beer was the surprise standout.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 17:58:33 | More by Brenden

capnamerica

Arkansas

3.66/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A: Nice copper color with a snow white medium head.

S: A lot of fruit (citrus), with a bit of spruce or pine. Great aroma.

T: Initially I noticed the hops with a slight sweet carmel finish. Nice balance.

M: Light but not too light.

O: A great beer, would be wonderful companion on a spring picnic.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 01:45:59 | More by capnamerica

Uncle_Jimmy

California

3.76/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Red seal ale

Appearance –more of a light orangish red 2 fingers or coarse white foam that linger

Aroma – floral citrusy slight pine and yeasty sourness

Taste- lightly roasted malts at the front like an easy drinking tea, maybe like a rye toast. they give way to a grapefruit and lavender hop bitterness. Slightly copper or irony aftertaste. Pleasant, it taste the best with the big floral nose at the beginning.

Mouthfeel- lighter bodied and easy drinking the flavors jump off sharply and leave the palette dry and wanting more.

Overall I think I may have drank this in the wrong glass. With such a strong aroma I should have had this in a tulip. It is an easy drinking “red”/ amber and I like the balance of hops and malt. I would order this again.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 14:25:17 | More by Uncle_Jimmy

FridayDave

North Carolina

3.63/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

On tap in a shaker pint glass in the darkness of the Wayside.
It really does pour copper in color, very like a penny. Very light head gone quickly.
Very little smell which was good as it was for a meal.
First taste was clean refreshing a bit of hop on the finish.
Second sip is light as the first just the right carbonation, it hours down well with my falls and fish and chips.
Overall a great beer with a meal would have shalom and again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-11-2013 23:52:19 | More by FridayDave

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.93/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into a pint glass

Appearance – The beer pours a hazy copper color with a one finger white head that fades quite fast. Upon dissipation the head leaves only a very light level of lacing.

Smell – The aroma of the brew is heaviest of some caramel malt sweetness. This is mixed with a nice balancing aroma of a citrus and pine hop smell.

Taste- The taste begins with a sweeter caramel and bready flavor upfront. These flavors are complimented by a pine hop flavor initially. Soon however there is an oncoming of some notes of a light fruit flavor as well as notes of a citrus hop. The citrus hop grows stronger as the taste advances to the end where it is joined by a light earthy hop flavor to leave a semi sweet and bitter flavor on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is average or just below in terms of thickness and creaminess with a carbonation level that is quite average. The average carbonation is a good feel for both the hop and caramel flavors, while the average to just below average body did make it very easy drinking.

Overall – A nice d red ale with a good balance of hop and malt. A good drinking brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 00:58:53 | More by Darkmagus82

tjsdomer2

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Amber orange in color. Yeasty murkiness as well. Great tan foam and lacing.

Smell: Yeasty caramel and a hint of pine. Some orange as well.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Very orange-y for an amber. Excellent balance with the pine and caramel. A hint of herbs as well. Sweet finish...a lot like honey. Mouthfeel is a bit thin when its cool.

Overall Drinkability: Another very good North Coast beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 22:59:27 | More by tjsdomer2

caulfield

Georgia

4.48/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Drank from 12 oz bottle on 12/15

Appearance - Pours smooth, nice minimal head, darker amber/caramel color

Smell- Floral smell, a hint of lemon, hops

Taste- Overall, a complex beer with a nice balance of malts and hops. The caramel comes through a little and the hoppiness is the dominant flavor. Overall, a great, easy drinking beer.

Mouthfeel- full body, but I wish it had a little higher gravity.

Overall - I wouldn't consider myself a hophead, especially in the winter when I usually want a malty beer, however, this is a great hoppy beer. I think it will please hop-and non-hopheads. This is a solid complex red ale that I would highly recommend. Its definitely worth picking up. Another winner by North Coast.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 03:46:56 | More by caulfield

BeerRangerBrooks

Montana

4.68/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Delicious on the palette. Complex, hoppy lager style beer with a balanced malt body, high(er) carbonation that allows for a flavorful, refreshing/savory finish. Other flavors present, spices balance the hop to make this one of my favorite beers in awhile. From a famous, well respected brewery - if this beer had 7.5% abv or more it would be one of my favorites. Amazing for what it is still.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 07:01:48 | More by BeerRangerBrooks

pkalix

California

4.2/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

pours a copper, but with an awesome and impressive, if short-lived, foam top
smell is all hops.
taste . . . . is all hops. well, a little malt balance at the front, but definitely hop-py all-around.
mouthfeel- medium viscosity; no significant amount of carbonation.
overall, another brewery with some decent brew, but nothing extra-ordinary. the stout was good, the pilsener was okay. but this ale is hoppier than i would expect it to be. it's still decent, and a drinkable brew. as much as i go against the hop-py standard, i do like this and could actually do a few in succession. i thik that part alone warrants a 4.5.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 02:37:13 | More by pkalix

DrinkMoreBigBeers

Michigan

4.28/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Only complaint is there is no date on the bottle. It has kept me from buying this beer in the past.

A - This beer pours a nice frothy off white head that has big and small bubbles with nice lacing. This beer is a hazy golden caramel color.

S - There is a nice citrus/pine aroma along with caramel as well along with some sweetness. Really pleasant aroma that smells pretty balanced.

T - This beer follows the nose pretty well with the lots of citrus hops up front that seem to linger throughout and the caramel maltyness coming in the middle to really balance it out. Very pleasant and easy drinking.

M - For a beer of 5.5% abv this beer has an awesome mouth feel coming in with a full body and some chewy-ness. I really like chewy full bodied beers and have not come across to many at this avb.

O - For a session ale this beer is a must for any hop head. If you just want a good hoped up beer to drink throughout the week this one would also work. Only downfall is the date; for it being a beer with hops and low abv it should have a date for the consumers. If it had one I am sure I would have picked one up sooner or been buying it more regular. It will get docked for no date on the bottle. As is, its a really good beer that will be in my fridge from now on.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 23:08:15 | More by DrinkMoreBigBeers

mjurney

Texas

4.35/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Clear, copper color. Lots of bubble rising up. Thick frothy head that stick round. Leaves a very nice lacing behind.

Sweet malts in the nose, caramel, fruity, some earthy-cirtus hops.

Starts off bready malts up front, mostly tosted-caramel along with citrus-floral hops. There some earthy toward the end of the palate. Dry finish and aftertaste. Medium bodied and carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 19:36:31 | More by mjurney

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.98/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

got a sixpack of this baby for the furthur show last nigh at red rocks. it poured a nice red copper color with a two inch white head. the smell is nice west coast hops and red malt, hoppy for a red ale. it has a crisp bitter flavor at first, but the malt mellows the finish with some caramel and bready notes. its very well balanced, and slightly unconventional. the mouthfeel is nice too, medium body and very drinkable, intensely carbonated. lots of flavor packed into this beer, one of the better north coast products ive had. an excellent concert beer as well, hearty and drinkable at the same time, nice!

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 16:20:55 | More by StonedTrippin

BasterdInABasket

Wisconsin

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle Poured into a Southern Tier Tulip
A- Poured 1.5 finger cream/white head, Hazy Amber
S- Decent aroma, straight hop, malt and citrus
T- Nice citrus hops to start, nothing overpowering, followed along by malt balance as hops continue to linger for a while
M- Medium bodied with good carbonation, pretty easy drinking
O- If I had to describe it I'd call it a Pale Red Ale. Great balance leaning slightly hop-ward. A beer I've gone to multiple times and have always been satisfied with.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 03:56:41 | More by BasterdInABasket

ElSid

California

4.2/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The Beers of California

#10

Freshness Date: None

A: Copper orange with a finger of off khaki head which quickly settles leaving a moderate amount of lace.

S: Orange, peach fruitiness upon first pour. Caramel, almost candy cane like sweetness with strong breadiness come through as the beer settles.

T: A wonderfully balanced brew with great sweet, caramel maltiness that has a biscuity, bready feel. A mild pepper zing comes through in the middle. Then comes citrus zest, notes of peach fruitiness along with elements of grass, spring flowers and even hints of pine needles.

M: Chewy, prickling, and linger are all there in the appropriate proportions

O: An awesome, round, balanced ale that does everything and anything. Pair it with meat, fish, chicken or just drink alone as a session ale. Simple yet complex, and highly recommended overall.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 02:39:13 | More by ElSid

klukoff

California

4.45/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Retains froth evenly across the glass. Not a huge head, but you ain't staring directly at the naked beer either. A rich bronze body that's spent time on the beach. Mild bubbles.

S - A strong straightforward smell of hops. A note of sweet honey, no bitter in the nose.

T - Strong hops and bitter. With a hint of cheerios, i mean cereals. Real bitters in the throat and the sides of the mouth. The tip of the tongue is still on those cereals though.

M - Medium vicousity with a taste that lingers for a good 20 seconds after a drink.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 15:56:38 | More by klukoff

raynmoon

California

3.73/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A beer I've been meaning to try for so long but always gets overshadowed by Old Rasputin.

It looks really nice.

Smells weird; Sweetness, smokiness, almost like BBQ sauce, a little vegetable mixed in, mostly BBQ and vegetable.

The taste is a little better. It's on the lighter side, a nice hop bitterness, some strange fruitiness that I cannot pick up on, and more of that vegetable taste. Perhaps I just don't like Amber Ales ha.

Overall, it isn't anything special. It is drinkable and smooth. But is kind of typical. Has a slightly unique bitterness to it that keeps you coming back but ends up only being an Amber Ale.

Very good for the style, over all, good.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 05:56:10 | More by raynmoon

ckollias

Maryland

4.43/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed this 12oz bottle out of a Belgian tulip glass.

A: Pours an amber hue with a thick, frothy, white head that slowly dissipates down the side of the glass leaving a nice trail and ending in a solid persistent lace.

S: Hoppy malty aromas mixed equally.

T: Similar to the smell a great hop flavor up followed by a solid malt background.

M: Medium body and medium carbonation.

O: This was a good beer. Very refreshing and a good equal mix of hops and malt.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 02:42:31 | More by ckollias

PorterLambic

Florida

3.98/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Arrives a slightly hazy orange color with what had been a finger width of off-white head, reduced to a film by server delay. Nice lace, though.
Smell is faint, with some malt, hops and citrus. Balance is good, presence is weak.
Taste is hops first, malt, citrus and woody notes playing supporting roles.
Medium bodied, warming from the swallow on, crisply effervescent though not overpowering, just noticeable. A solid, tasty, refreshing beer that could easily fill many roles.

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2012 21:59:21 | More by PorterLambic