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

SmashPants

Australia

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: brown 355mL stubbie bottle, cool but cheap looking label.

Appearance: coppery red body under a thick foamy head and webs of lacing.

Aroma: floral and citrusy hops, caramel malts. A little strong at first.

Taste: grapefruit, orange, nice balance with the caramel and toffee.

Aftertaste: lingers nicely, great level of hops - not too much of a wham.

Mouth feel: medium bodied, almost chewy. Medium-to-high carbonation assists the hop flavours explode in the mouth.

Overall: quite a smooth and sessional ale, though I wouldn't want to have a whole heap of them in one hit unless I came into more money than I'm currently worth.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2012 12:36:05 | More by SmashPants

DocJitsu

California

3.78/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear copper golden color with a small off white head. The head dissipates rather quickly leaving an off white cap. During effervescence, the beer's bouquet is of mild floral, but mostly citrus hops. I love the greenish tint the beer has around it's top edges and in the foam as it's being poured. As the beer settles, the grain presents more prominently. The moutfheel is very nice. Smooth, wet, and perfectly carbonated. Very mild flavor. Light toasted malt with appealing mild hop flavor in the background. The maltiness does eventually succumb to the citrus hop that prevails late. What's left in the finish is a mild, unoffensive hop perfume in the palate. Very good and drinkable pale ale. That from a fellow who nearly never likes malty pale ales.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 02:47:30 | More by DocJitsu

Danny1217

Florida

4.23/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice dark amber color with a white head. Decent retention and some nice lacing left behind.

Smell has a nice balance between a sweet malty scent and the hops. I smell some citrus and toffee here.

Taste is hoppy and dry with some sweet caramel and citrus. Thick malty body. Very smooth drinking.

Really like this one. I pick it up quite often when I find it sitting in the local Whole Foods.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 04:18:30 | More by Danny1217

firemedic1343

Florida

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

Appearance was very nice. It captured the light and had a nice caramel hue.

Smell - Strong aromas of malted barley, hops and yeast. I believe that's all that's in it other than water, but it was a very appealing smell.

Taste- Delicious. I'd like a little less hop, but I'm very anti-hop.

Mouthfeel- Very chewy and nice.

Overall- Enjoyed it a lot, I recommend trying this.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 02:30:16 | More by firemedic1343

keithmurray

Louisiana

3.53/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

appearance - dark cherry/copper color with white head

smell - red cherry, malts, caramel

taste - caramel malts, red cherry, hops in the finish

mouthfeel - medium bodied, highly carbonated, slightest of sweetness in the body, followed by a great deal of bitterness in the finish from the hops, grade is knocked down a bit since the hoppiness is more prominent than I would like

Overall - a decent beer for the style, had the hops been turned down just a bit, I would have enjoyed this even more

Price Point - $2.25/single 12oz

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 23:03:57 | More by keithmurray

kojevergas

California

3.33/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served on-draught into a nonical pint glass at the Yardhouse in L.A. Live. Reviewed from notes. It was overpriced at that location.

A: Pours a two finger head of fair cream, nice thickness, and good retention. Colour is a semitransparent copper. Appealing.

Sm: A pleasant floral hop aroma. A mild strength aroma. Some cream. Maybe citrus esters.

T: Hoppy, with some orange peel citrus esters. Light cream. Nicely balanced, if simple. Pleasant and enjoyable. No real layering is plesant. I like it. No yeast or alcohol comes through. Rounded hop character is nice.

Mf: Smooth and wet, suiting the flavours nicely. Not too thick or too thin. Perfectly carbonated. Delicate and lovely.

Dr: Very drinkable. I'd definitely have it again. The simplicity holds it back but it's pretty good. Probably best enjoyed out of the bottle at a better price. Not North Coast's best offering, but an enjoyable little Amber.

B-

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2012 23:53:26 | More by kojevergas

rangerred

Tennessee

3.58/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a slightly hazy light copper with a half finger off-white head.

Smells quite lemony which I'm guessing is from the hops. Some pine as well along with a little bit of caramel and toffee.

The flavor is also full of lemony citrus and pine. There is some slight roastiness and a little bit of caramel. A moderate bitterness is present throughout but is never overwhelming. The finish is slightly sticky.

Overall, I feel a little let down by this beer as I was hoping for a little more malt presence. That aside, it is a drinkable beer and something I would probably have again.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 01:13:21 | More by rangerred

BilbosNuts

California

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

A: Pours a clear light copper color with a one finger, off white, frothy head. The head sticks around for quite some time and leaves behind some spotted lacing. Waves of carbonation bubbles rise to the top giving it an inviting appearance.

S: A good balance between hops and malts. It has a light citrus and tropical fruit hop profile that pairs well with toasted and caramel malts.

T: The taste is very similar to the aroma with a fine balance of hops and malts. A slightly bitter finish provides a refreshing sensation.

M: Medium bodied and adequately carbonated. It has a slightly dry finish.

O: This is a fine red ale. One of my go-to beers when looking for something refreshing and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 00:49:46 | More by BilbosNuts

soju6

Missouri

4.15/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a bright amber color with a good head and nice lacing.

S: Aroma is piney with caramel sweetness with a bit of fruit thrown in.

T: Taste is a blend of pine and caramel sweetness with a bit of fruit to round it out. Nice bitterness and a dry finish.

F: medium body, crisp smooth and refreshing. Well balanced with a bit of character.

O: This is a great beer for the style. Goes down way too easy. Well worth checking out.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 02:50:52 | More by soju6

denver10

Colorado

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

A cherry amber appearance with a thumbs width white head and nice lacing.A sweet aroma of toffee and honey alongside a touch of floral. Flavor matches the aroma quite with a mildly bitter finish to this. A very smooth, medium body to this. Overall, this feels like it is toeing the line between an amber and a red. I guess the hoppy finish to this makes it a red but I get a big amber vibe from this one otherwise. That said, I really enjoyed this one. High up there on my list of ambers.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2012 00:53:44 | More by denver10

dexterk1

Illinois

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

Poured from bottle into pint glass. Color is a dark amber to reddish. Head is thick and has staying power.
Odor is pretty light. Some citrus and floral. Also some malt.
Taste is very good overall. Citrus, floral and some bitterness near the end.
Mouth feel is clean and crisp. This beer is also pretty smooth throughout.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2012 00:07:23 | More by dexterk1

Sharkophile

New York

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

A: Poured this beauty into a pint glass. Appears a brilliant orangey amber hue with a huge, airy off-white head that has excellent retention.

S: Aromas of caramel with a perfumy piney, floral and earthy hop character forming a nice spectrum.

T: Mirrors the nose with caramel, toffee and butterscotch maltiness upon which the huge hop flavors take a hold. Resinous piney, grassy, and lemony flavors dance about and a spicy and earthy hop flavor stings the palate in the dry, lingering finish. No real bitterness or hard edges.

M: Medium body with a smooth, creamy carbonation. Excellent.

O: The amount of hop flavor in this beer is insane, and the malt isn't a pushover either. An immensely enjoyable amber.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2012 05:28:44 | More by Sharkophile

dansmcd

Australia

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Coppery red body under a thick foamy head and webs of lacing.

S - Floral and citrusy hops, caramel malt.

T - Hop forward, grapefruit, orange, perfect balance with the caramel and toffee.

M - Moderate in carbonation and body, bitter finish.

O - Great balance and a nice example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 13:53:40 | More by dansmcd

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

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

12 Oz poured into a pint glass

A- Pours a slightly hazy yellow/ orange with a nice three finger head that really likes to stick to the sides of the glass.

S- Smells of caramel and bitterness. A complex but sweet caramel flavor with overly ripened fruits like grapefruit and figs, a lot of darker fruit characteristics as well. A very pleasing aroma.

T- A slight bitterness up front but its followed by a smooth and surprisingly refreshing sweet caramel malt backbone. The hops add a bitterness that really balances out the rest of the beer while providing a light but present west coast hop flavor profile. A bit of citrus and a nice astringency but not enough to overpower the other complex flavors in this brew. It has a caramel flavor that reminds me of a red ale (not surprisingly) and has a somewhat earthy grain bill.

M- Refreshing, but not watered down, flavorful, yet easy to drink. This beer is as balanced as they come and does a good job of keeping you interested with the flavors. A refreshing feel and a slightly dry aftertaste.

O- This is a great beer. On the shelf, it doesn't look like much and I doubt I would have ever tried it had my friend not bought it and shared a few. This brew has a good flavor, its easy to drink and keeps me interested. Another winner from North Coast.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 00:40:07 | More by TwelveOunces

MammothTarantula

Oklahoma

4.08/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass.

A: Beautiful, deep amber color. May have some chill haze going on. One finger head quickly dissipated and left a thin layer of foam on the top. Minimal lacing.

S: Very sweet and estery with a tinge of hoppiness riding along at the end.

T: Very quick burst of malts, followed by a very pleasant hops. Lots of floral, fruity flavors. Watermelon and grapefruit are present. Really, really pleasant tasting beer.

M: Chewy, offers some resistance as I move my tongue through it. Medium to heavy carbonation, which was surprisingly nice, as I normally do not prefer heavy carbonation. Complex, yet easy to drink.

O: Really great stuff. I may be looking at new session beer here.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2012 19:16:14 | More by MammothTarantula

patre_tim

China

4.15/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Amber light brown colour. It is pleasantly cloudy. Two finger head, but dissipated to a foam still resting on the surface of the beer. Smells of peaches and grapefruit, with a floral smell intermingled. Tastes of floral, grapefruit and peaches. Smooth with sour notes, a slight bitterness at the end which lingers. Moderate carbonation. Medium body. There is a final fragrance in the nose reminding me of Thai food-its lemongrass and bergemot. My first first American Amber, and first from North Coast.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2012 04:00:40 | More by patre_tim

capt_rob934

5/5  rDev +27.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

(11/08/2011) Poured into a Sam Adam's Perfect Pint Glass (the first time), great accumulation and retention of head. Lots of lacing

A: floral hop aroma with a sweet caramel backing accompanied by slight roasted malt

C: Beautiful dark copper/red

Sip: Perfectly balanced hop and malt characteristics. Hoppy with sweet malt undertones that compliment but don't overpower the hops. The blend lingers on the tongue in a very appealing way

OV: Great beer from a great brewery, definitely one of the best Red Ales out there, especially for the price ($8.99/6pack where I work)

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 05:05:32 | More by capt_rob934

dsmcva00

Alaska

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

Serving type: bottle poured into a pint glass.

Appearance – Poured in an amber color. Average ¼-inch head, dropping quickly to lacing with a climbing ring around the glass.

Smell – Sourdough bread.

Taste/mouthfeel – Slightly pungent bitter hops lend themselves to the crisp, clean taste of this pale ale. It is quite smooth and finishes to a subtle, fruity-sweet flavor (apricot?). Mouthfeel is chewy, smooth, with just the right amount of carbonation. Very nice indeed!

Overall – Crisp, clean, enjoyable. This is a refreshing beer I would love to try on tap but the bottle is definitely worth many more purchases.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2012 07:05:20 | More by dsmcva00

dino821235

Alberta (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I think this is a great red ale style with a bit of a hoppy taste and a average head...carbonation is good and i recommend this as a great session beer.I am a big fan of North Coast Brewing Co.and see myself picking this beer up many more times in the future.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2012 19:40:12 | More by dino821235

McNealc31

Ohio

3.55/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Spicy hops aromas lead the way in North Coast Red Seal Ale. It's more of a hazy copper than it is red, however.

Slightly roasted and slightly sweet malt are balanced very well by the spicy, piney hops. There's even an underlying hint of ginger, I believe.The finish is long, dry, and more bitter than expected. Overall, the flavors are not overpowering or particularly big, but it tastes good and it's well balanced.

Pretty tasty red ale, this. Maybe not on the same level as other North Coast offerings such as Old Rasputin and Old Stock ale, but you won't be disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2012 02:08:19 | More by McNealc31

barnzy78

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle, pours amber with a thin, off-white head that holds some retention, but eventually ends up a thin layer atop the ale. Aromas and tastes are similar: spicy & floral hops, caramel malts, toasted grains, sharp but not too aggressive citric bitterness from the hops. Well balanced. Mouth-feel is creamy and medium bodied. Overall, I've always said this is a great introductory/gateway craft beer. You get a taste of the hops, but they won't blow away the palate of someone new to craft beer. Always a good west coast amber to come back to now and again.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 18:15:21 | More by barnzy78

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes, as usual.

Pours out a cloudy copper-amber color with a decent fluffy off-white head (two fingers) that sticks around for about a minute and a half, but leaves behind some really nice lace curtains. Smells of caramel malts and some zesty citrus peel. Tastes of the same as the nose but also includes a fair helping of yeasty spice as well. Body and carbonation are medium strength, texture is smooth and creamy in the mouth. Overall a really nice amber ale with a somewhat "west coast" hopping bill.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 00:08:22 | More by WastingFreetime

Fear4Beer

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It has a beautiful looking red color (although color doesn't mean much to me), it has a nice sized head (about a fingers length, as others have stated) that dissipates quite quickly. The taste is pretty nice. It is a little bit bitter but it is still pleasant to drink.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 04:39:24 | More by Fear4Beer

metter98

New York

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is clear copper in color and has a light to moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high frothy beige head that has excellent retention properties and ever faded away, consistently leaving a thin head covering the surface and a web of lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: There are moderately strong aromas of caramel malts in the nose along with notes of spicy hops.
T: The taste has flavors of caramel malts and citrusy hops and is accompanied by a light to moderate amount of bitterness. There are some hints of spicy hops towards the finish.
M: It feels medium-bodied and rather smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer has an excellent balance between the malt and hop flavors. I would have no problem drinking more than one of these at a time because it goes down easily and the taste has quite a bit of flavor. It would probably make for a good beer to pair with food because none of the flavors are overpowering.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 01:12:53 | More by metter98

mactrail

California

3.4/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Quite a malty mouthful with a pleasant nutty taste. Light body and certainly in the family of these red ales without any surprises, pleasant or otherwise. Some of the biscuit taste. Sharper than some in this category. Some fruity flavors. Soft and warm. Not much aroma.

The earthy, murky flavor that fills the mouth after a few sips is nothing special. Still, better than many other red/amber ales and quite drinkable.

On tap at Mitch's Seafood in San Diego. Coppery amber color in the, um, plastic pint cup. Decent head and well carbonated on the tongue.

Serving type: on-tap

03-05-2012 06:19:49 | More by mactrail