-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Ridge Runner
Rock Art Brewery
- From:
- Rock Art Brewery
- Vermont, United States
- Style:
- English Barleywine
Ranked #185 - ABV:
- 7.2%
- Score:
- 79
Ranked #26,753 - Avg:
- 3.44 | pDev: 15.99%
- Reviews:
- 208
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 29, 2023
- Added:
- Aug 07, 2002
- Wants:
- 8
- Gots:
- 40
"Robust, Dark and Smooth, hold on to your hat cause you’ll lose your feet on this one!" Brewed with pale, dark crystal, Munich, flaked barley, black and chocolate malts. Hops include Cascade, Crystal, Challenger and Perle.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by mvanaskie13 from Pennsylvania
3.96/5 rDev +15.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev +15.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured into a wide mouth grip shaped goblet: color is amber, not quite transparent, head is very light tan and presents less than one finger thick, head dissipates to thin top, ring on the glass and some lacing on the glass sides.
Smell is clean, malty, lightly hopped - notes of toffee, caramel, light herbal and citrus notes.
Taste is similar - malty, notes of toffee, caramel and then hoppy notes of light citrus and herbal/tea like.
Mouthfeel is lower carbonation, moderate sweetness, low/moderate bitterness.
Overall a strong malty ale with moderate hopping - very drinkable in hybrid style execution.
Nov 29, 2023Smell is clean, malty, lightly hopped - notes of toffee, caramel, light herbal and citrus notes.
Taste is similar - malty, notes of toffee, caramel and then hoppy notes of light citrus and herbal/tea like.
Mouthfeel is lower carbonation, moderate sweetness, low/moderate bitterness.
Overall a strong malty ale with moderate hopping - very drinkable in hybrid style execution.
Reviewed by howardnss from Pennsylvania
3.82/5 rDev +11%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.82/5 rDev +11%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Not considered by the brewery as a barley wine any longer because of the ABV. The brewery now calls this a bold Vermont ale instead of a barley wine.
Aug 31, 2019Reviewed by m9b from Vermont
3.63/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.63/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
i liked reading these reviews but was initially disappointed by the ok rating (as it is my drink of choice) a few key points to rehash - unfiltered (good) bold (good) vermont ale is the cans self descriptor. Also good is the only 9.99 asking price per 4 pk. So its 7.2 and in a 4 pack 27 ibu but still hopped yes they mention malts and it comes to mind in the pour. I saw one reviewer mentioning this beer being not the experience itself but i do feel the need to mention mine in Ridge runners acquisition. So i wanted rock art and the beer "king" only had the maple wheat. Another big store had everything but (its far away ie not walking distance) so the third option was the only one to have this and its a find at its price if you are looking for the brand which you may on occasion. No-one is touting this as a run out and get; but on a day that you do! :)
May 09, 2019Reviewed by Rlhj from New Hampshire
3.55/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.55/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
A weak barleywine. My can said "bold Vermont ale". I couldn't put my finger on it but it's more a weak, weak barleywine.
Good but not great. I'd drink it again but not seek it out.
Jun 29, 2018Good but not great. I'd drink it again but not seek it out.
Reviewed by argock from Virginia
2.61/5 rDev -24.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5
2.61/5 rDev -24.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5
Poured from a 12 oz brown btottle into a clear glass snifter. Bottled on Jun 28 2015 is my guess (no date) but could easily be earlier (see below).
A: Very clear amber with 1 finger beige head with decent retention and a few spots of lacing.
S: A weird chemical rum raisin extract kind of aroma leapt from the glass with a bit of light caramel and weird grassiness.
T: Flavor is poor to start with and gets worse with each sip. No caramel really to speak of with a bunch of cardboard and weird vegetable flavors. They need some oxygen control as this beer should hold up and is 3 years old at most. Little other flavors come through. No infection flavors per se but tons of oxidation.
M: Super thin and carbonation is medium.
O: Maybe a bad bottle but won't try again.
Jul 31, 2017A: Very clear amber with 1 finger beige head with decent retention and a few spots of lacing.
S: A weird chemical rum raisin extract kind of aroma leapt from the glass with a bit of light caramel and weird grassiness.
T: Flavor is poor to start with and gets worse with each sip. No caramel really to speak of with a bunch of cardboard and weird vegetable flavors. They need some oxygen control as this beer should hold up and is 3 years old at most. Little other flavors come through. No infection flavors per se but tons of oxidation.
M: Super thin and carbonation is medium.
O: Maybe a bad bottle but won't try again.
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont
2.78/5 rDev -19.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
2.78/5 rDev -19.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
This was poured into a chalice. The appearance was a dark hazy amber color with a slim quarter finger’s worth of white foamy head that dissipated within seconds. The smell starts off with a semi-sweet cooked caramel malt trying to blend with light vanilla and herbal/tea-like qualities running over some light cooked cocoa tones. The taste pretty much copies the aroma decently. There’s no aftertaste but it does have a slight smooth semi-dry finish. On the palate, this one sat about a medium on the body with a decent sipping quality about it. Carbonation hits just a tad harder than other Barleywines I’ve had. Overall, a bit different as an English Barleywine, not exactly sure about this one. I'll stick with Vermonster by these guys.
Jul 19, 2017
Ridge Runner from Rock Art Brewery
Beer rating:
79 out of
100 with
436 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!