River City Red
Grand Rapids Brewing Co

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From:
Grand Rapids Brewing Co
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
American Amber / Red Ale
ABV:
Not listed
Score:
80
Avg:
3.17 | pDev: 21.45%
Reviews:
9
Ratings:
10
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Aug 06, 2014
Added:
Dec 28, 2002
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by granger10:
Photo of granger10
Reviewed by granger10 from Wisconsin

2.62/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Is this really a red ale? It poured very dark red in color, almost brown in my eye. Smell was subtle yet seemed to be quite flavorful as well. Taste was grainy along with some pungency and butteryness. Chocolate was also present and some smoky flavors as well. Rough and unenjoyable.
Mar 04, 2004
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by harripat from Illinois

Aug 06, 2014
Photo of GRPunk
Reviewed by GRPunk from Michigan

3.47/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
My final beer from GRBC. Gonna' miss the place. Lots of good memories.

Growler poured into a nonic pint glass.

A- An agressive pour brought on a 1-finger, tan head that quickly dropped to a thin film. Light spots mostly fell back into the body. The clean, red-brown body showcases moderate carbonation. Dark brown > red.

S- Caramel up front. Light fruity esters on an initially whiff went away thereafter. A little nutty. Some caramel. A little smoke comes out with warmth (a Scottish influence was mentioned on the menu). Muted aromas really opens up with warmth.

T- More robust than the initial aroma suggests. At first there's a burst of milk chocolate with an underlying nuttiness and caramel. Did I just describe a liquid Snickers? Sweet, but not as much as the candy bar description would suggest. As with the aroma, a smooth smoke comes through with warmth. It brings out a Scottish Shilling quality. Very malt-centric.

M- Light carbonation makes a smooth feel. Slightly chalky. A little thin overall, more so than the vessel could produce.

O- Drinkability is really good. I could do a few in a sitting. Good flavor. Lacking in other areas knocks it down a notch. Definitely pick up some the Scottish qualities. Maybe more of a Scottish ale even.
Jun 19, 2011
Photo of smibroncos
Reviewed by smibroncos from New York

3.55/5  rDev +12%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A. Red,tawny,cloudy,small off white to tan head. Not much lacing on the glass.

S. Grain, sugar, hops are very light.

T. Sweet, malt up front. But where's the hops? Carbonation ok.

M. Decent slightly thin but good carbonation.

D. Again decent but not my favorite in this style.
May 21, 2010
Photo of WakeandBake
Reviewed by WakeandBake from Michigan

3.03/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Notes 9/27/08
Pours a clear dark reddish brown with an offwhite head.Aroma of grassy hops and toasted malt.Flavor is much the same as the aroma amber malt and earthy grassy hopps .Thin watery mouthfeel with some soft carbonation,little to no aftertaste. An ok brew but not my favorite
Dec 24, 2008
Photo of jp32
Reviewed by jp32 from Michigan

1.8/5  rDev -43.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5
This one is a deep reddish-amber color. No head, barely and squeak of visible carbonation. The nose is faint, a bit bready and malty. The taste however, is even worse. First of all its flat as could be, its just screaming for some carbonation to dress it up a bit. It has a mostly malty character, but not a good malty, a more seemingly crappy one. Sugar, bread, corn, and something just really unimpressive that I cant figure out round out the flavor profile. I really had to muscle up and force myself to pound this one down quickly so I could move on to something different. Not drinkable, definitly not enjoyable.
Oct 10, 2007
Photo of gmfessen
Reviewed by gmfessen from Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +23%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Drank this one on a sampler, beer was a deep amber color with a foamy head that circled the edge of the glass. The smell was of carmel and amber malts. The taste was sweet, amber malt with a slightly hoppy finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, more carbonation could have been desirable. Overall, a very drinkable beer.
Nov 23, 2006
Photo of walleye
Reviewed by walleye from Michigan

2.96/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
from the tap at the brewery. poured dark amber with a nice off white head with good lacing. aroma nicely balanced with the hops and malts, sugar.flavor, hops and malts, brown sugar. a little on the thin side but still not too bad of a beer, could have few of these might make a good session beer.
Nov 04, 2005
Photo of Reneejane
Reviewed by Reneejane from Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +29.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
The beer was nice deep amber to red color. It was poured with a decent head, that clung and laced down the side of the glass. It had a fairly mild flavor that was created through a decent balance of malty and hoppy flavors. It did have a complex flavor from the nutty malts and the combination of hops (did I detect just a light bit of saaz flavor?) I believe it to be an overall English feeling ale. So I found no American lightness in the malt or citrus flavors.

It left a pleasently sweet malty aftertaste and the mouthfeel was excellent, not too much carbonation, just right.
Jun 22, 2004
Photo of Mitchster
Reviewed by Mitchster from Michigan

2.55/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Brilliantly clear dark chestnut with a thin beige head with poor retention and lacing. Carbonation is mild to moderate. Aroma is indistinct with a faint suggestion of corn and chocolate malt. Taste begins with mild chocolate malt (in a red?) and astringent roasted barley..there is a light alcohol note with a long herbal hop finish and a suggestion of moist pipe tobacco. Mouthfeel is lightly dry with a medium body.
Nov 13, 2003
River City Red from Grand Rapids Brewing Co
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 10 ratings