Fire Road Red Ale - Laurelwood Public House & Brewery

RedDiamond

Oregon

3.43/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Laurelwood has long made the best red ales anywhere. Perhaps it's for this reason that Fire Road seemed somewhat disappointing compared to Free Range or Bridgid's Irish - this one has a lot to live up to. Fire Road is certainly a worthy ale, but it's far more gruff than Laurelwood's other reds. Instead of the plush fruitiness that I enjoy in a red ale, Fire Road has an excess of bittering and lacks malt body. The 68 IBU puts more fire in Fire Road than I'd care for.

Still, I shouldn't complain. This is a spicy beer as if brewed with noble hops and tastes a bit like an overhopped ESB. It delivers a spicy-floral aroma and abstract lace above a body of clear dark bronze. But it's also a bit tannic and takes a little attitude adjustment to appreciate.

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2009 01:21:56 | More by RedDiamond

Docer

Washington

4/5  rDev +18%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Fire Road Red Ale

An aggressively hopped amber ale with strong American hop character. Dry hopped with Centennials. A bigger beer that finishes with a slight malt and sticky hop sweetness.

7.1% ABV

68 IBUs

O.G. 16.2º Plato

Had a pint of this on tap today and wrote down some notes...

- To me it looked more like an Amber Ale.. Amber and brown color.. with only a slight red shade.. creamy head, off-white, and mega-lacing all about...

- Smelled quite fruity and not so much bitter.. a great caramel and malt profile in scent, and yet a very complex hop scent.. very unique in smell.

- Smooth caramel and floral balance.. then a bit of pine.. and a rather dry and bitter after-bite that caught me off guard.. couldn't see it coming in the smell. Almost a rye presence... a big bite!

- Dry mouth, sweet aftertaste.. sweet grain in which the place smelled the same.. grainy and slightly chewy..

- Very drinkable for me.. perfect carbonation... but wouldn't be a winner to those that don't like a bitter hop finish. Hides its strength well.

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2009 20:56:03 | More by Docer