HotRod Red - Aviator Brewing Company

blackie

Virginia

4/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

draft at Chow, Raleigh

a: draft served in a 20 oz nonic pint, the beer is a deep reddish amber in color, arriving with a healthy topping of eggshell white head, retention and lacing average

s: grainy breads and nutty toasted malts on a nose of mid-sweet caramel, nice roast, earthy hops, enjoying the complexity and deep toasted notes here

m: carbonated to about a moderate level, body around medium

t: bready with a caramel sweetness upfront, followed quickly with deeply toasted red malts, and then nutty toast continuing into the finish as things try out, earthy hop flavors with a balanced bitterness

o: a well above average red here, the deep toasted character courtesy of the roasted malt adds a great underlying complexity to the sweet caramel, pleasantly interesting for the style, drinks well

Serving type: on-tap

04-12-2013 03:11:45 | More by blackie

Durge

Connecticut

3.98/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A dark, copper colored brew with a healthy off-white head and major walls of lacing. The aroma brings sour mash malt, a little pine hop and fruit nougat and a touch of grassy yeast alcohol. The flavor closes the deal with deep grassy malt cider. There's a vague floral edge, slightly perfumey vegetable ideas. It has some bock-like qualities. A little skunky. A very solid red ale, easily recommended with medium body and a dry feel, smooth and modestly carbonated. Nice!

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2012 06:01:14 | More by Durge

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

At Ale House in Durham,. Pour is a nice red, with a decent white head floating on tap. Smell is roasty, with a decent hoppy presence. The flavor pretty much follows suit. The taste is amazing. Complex with a touch of dry malt. Caramel malt is everywhere, and I love it. It leaves a slightly chewy malt feeling.

The only better Irish Red is GLBC Conways.

Serving type: on-tap

03-30-2012 21:23:17 | More by VncentLIFE

usafboy

North Carolina

4.4/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Poured on tap at the Aviator Brewery into a pint glass. Deep orange color. Beautiful! Moderate lacing formed as I drank. Didn't want to wait for this one.

Smell- Light and zesty.

Taste- With only a Killians to base my memory off of a red this beer much far better. Grassy and clean hops that lingered but didn't overpower.

Overall- This is what I imagine when I imagine an irish beer. Aviators signature brew and rightly so!

Serving type: on-tap

02-05-2012 04:12:12 | More by usafboy

SaCkErZ9

Florida

3.45/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served on draft at the FV draft house. Pours reddish ruddy brown color. Small wispy off white head. Good dose of lacing. Sweet up front with some caramel maltiness and bready backbone. Not much different than the Steamhead. Biscuity and bready with some yeast flavors kicking in as well. More of the chocolate malitness. Not too shabby. Tastes close to a brown ale/amber ale hybrid. Plenty of bread.

Serving type: on-tap

08-26-2011 20:46:22 | More by SaCkErZ9

tdm168

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark amber with a half inch of head with great retention. Smells of caramel malts and mild hop notes. Taste is burnt, roasted malts with mild, piny hop character. Mouthfeel is crisp with medium carbonation.

Not a bad Irish Red. Definitely more flavor than you're average mass produced Irish Red.

Serving type: on-tap

08-19-2011 22:44:40 | More by tdm168

oberon

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Speakeasy in Carrboro.Poured into a standard pint a deep amber/bronze with tight one finger slight off white head that held well.Caramel toffee and brown sugar sweetness in the nose,lighter burnt toast aromas as well,the hops provide some herbal notes.Starts out with caramel malts and brown sugar with hops melding into the beer adding leafy,and herbal hops.A more hopped up red but not as big as alot of American reds.

Serving type: on-tap

06-25-2011 22:55:39 | More by oberon

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

tap

Pours a clear copper color with a bit of white lacing.

Bit of toastiness in the nose with maybe some maple sweetness and also hops aromas.

Mild grain taste, somewhat toasted, and a touch of hop bitterness.

Moderate to fuller mouth with a good tingly carbonation.

Solid Irish ale with good flavors and presentation. Not quite anything special, but worth a try and gets the job done.

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2011 02:29:34 | More by Cylinsier

bearfootdaddy

North Carolina

5/5  rDev +37%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

on tap in glass at tap house, great in a growler too. I would like to get a keg soon.

nice head,

clean taste.

mild hops, just right for a amber ale.

stayed crisp till the last sip,

thick amber color,

great local beer,

I think I will go drink one now.

Serving type: on-tap

10-08-2010 16:52:09 | More by bearfootdaddy

mechamifune

North Carolina

3.85/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Have had this beer many times and have experienced a lot of variation with it. This review reflects the most common experience I have had with it.

Pours a nice red/amber with a heavy creamy head.
Hops are evident in the smell, more so than most "irish reds" (though i think that categorization is often misused). Smeetness is also evident, but not heavy.

Taste is pleasant, a slight but far from overwhelming hoppiness with a obvious malt backbobe. More hoppy than most in this style, and for me thats a welcome change.

Mouthfeel is a little thicker and heavier than I would like, but again I think it is probably about right for the style.

As a result the drinkability is good but not great. A decent enough session-style beer and a good take on one of my less than favorite styles.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2010 18:19:08 | More by mechamifune

beer2day

North Carolina

3.48/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bright red pour with 1-finger of light tan head. Very little retention. Laces very nicely.

Faint, sweet malt nose. Not much to go on.

Sweet hit on the tongue. Turns very sweet in the aftertaste, like big red licorice. Surprisingly dry and hoppy in the finish.

Decent malt body.

Easy drinker and hides it's slightly higher than average abv well.

Serving type: on-tap

03-22-2010 16:05:36 | More by beer2day

bosox941827

North Carolina

3.53/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap at Tyler's TapRoom in Apex into 16oz logo pint glass that I wanted to take with me (but didn't!). First try of an Aviator beer, which is my bad as they're just down the road...
A - Nice, welcoming reddish-amber color
S - Mostly caramel malts but a bit of hops as well
T - Gotta say up front, I'm not a fan of "red" beers, as they've always had somewhat of an "off" flavor to me that I can't place, however wanted to try an Aviator, so gave it a whirl....and actually, as red ales go, this has got to be one of the better ones I've tried. Has MUCH more of a hop presence than am used to from this style, which is fine with me. Kind of has an English Pale Ale type hop flavor for me. Can still sense that "off" flavor which I mention above, but it's hidden by the hops and bit of alcohol. That being said, sweet malts predominate here, with the hops finishing things off.
M - Properly carbonated with a nice smooth mouthfeel.
D - Could session this, especially with the hops balancing things out.

Overall probably the best red ale I've had, which, granted, doesn't say too much. But I liked this beer, would order it again, and it gets me excited to try more from Aviator. So, mission accomplished!

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2010 00:26:45 | More by bosox941827

SIRIUS2

North Carolina

3.73/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served on-tap at the Aviator Tap House in Fuquay Varina, NC.

Brought to me in a standard pint glass. Deep orange to red in color, very light head that quickly reduced to a thin layer of bubbles and a heavy ring around the glass. Very light lacing.

Aromas are relatively light. There is some moderate to light malts that mix with herbal grassy hops. Nothing here is overpowering or strong, but rather well matched and balanced.

Flavors of modest malts and light earthy hops are quite well balanced. Slightly heavier mouthfeel than I would have expected and somewhat muted grassy hop notes make this a most enjoyable brew. Finish is more dry than not, and is relatively clean. Linger is short and slightly hoppy.

Nice flavors for an Irish Red, with hints of "English" hops and malts. This really strikes me as something that might be had at an English inn rather than an Irish pub. Just the same it's solid and clean. Nice brew!

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2009 01:31:18 | More by SIRIUS2

GJ40

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled on tap at Peak City Grill in Apex.

I'd been meaning to try more Aviator beers and with them onsite at Peak City Grill for a promotion, the timing was right. I'm more into hops than malts but this beer had some great flavors coming from the malts. It was fruity, bready and biscuity with a touch or caramel and nuts. And it had a nice rich mouthfeel.

Hot Rod Red is a flavorful and enjoyable beer. It's a nice addition to the local beer scene and I look forward to seeing it come out in bottles.

Serving type: on-tap

11-17-2009 11:20:52 | More by GJ40

mactrail

California

3.9/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

This is really quite interesting. A surprisingly different flavor-- and plenty of it-- in an Irish Red. The taste is something I have not encountered for a long time, one I describe as "musty," but in a good way. It's woody and fragrant, like cedar, but has a mushroom sort of taste along with the earthy hops.

Reddish amber in the Duvel tulip with a modest but persistent foam. Plenty of hoppy flavors give this a bitter middle that intensifies in the aftertaste. The nutty, roasted flavors are what give it some zest. I score this highly because it's a superior example of a really dull category of beer. From the 12 oz can purchased at Whole Foods in Washington, DC.

Serving type: can

06-15-2013 05:52:52 | More by mactrail

wolfpack87

North Carolina

4.23/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Simply put, an outstanding red ale from Aviator Brewing. Had usually stuck with Red Oak for my red ale desires, but a friend of mine told me to try this and I found it at a local beer shop in Boone.

Taste was easily near the top of any red ale I've ever had. The pour was not near as smooth as I would normally like, but the flavor made it easy to forgive the foam after the can opened.

Serving type: can

06-11-2013 20:53:50 | More by wolfpack87

smakawhat

Maryland

4.03/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the can into a nonic pint glass.

This is a real nice looking ale. Big even poured head of off tan bubbles, four fingers large and settles with lots of retention and a big cap. All pinhead even nearly. Real solid red copper body, crystal clear but very dark. Impressive and aggressive looking brew.

Nose has lots of dry ripping grain, and barley sensations. Hits at dry soil and tilled earth soil. Faint sweet caramel in the back. A bit different, but I seem to be enjoying it.

Palate hits with a nice simple body. Light malts and a bit of sticky yeast and a very good herbal grassy bitterness on the finish. Interesting hop angle with a good mix of pine, and herbal grass. Malts and hops seem to balance nicely with a good compliment. Minor caramel, with a dry barley giving a very big toasty nearly wooden like finish.

Pretty interesting take and a memorable brew for the style. Quite different than most Irish Ale's I've had.

Serving type: can

05-31-2013 00:32:51 | More by smakawhat

devilben02

North Carolina

3.4/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

Every single f^#@ing can in this six-pack has overflowed from the pour spout upon cracking, resulting in a stupidly over-foamed pour. The beer does have a nice amber color, though, under that ridiculous head. The obnoxiously overflowing pour also filled the area with lovely beer aromas of cereal grains, lemon pith, and a clean yeastiness. In the flavor, sweet caramel malts are subdued by an earthy, dry, somewhat roasty bitterness, but it all comes through just a bit thin. The light texture has some substance and energy, providing a fine complement to the flavor profile. Overall, the overflowing cans pissed me off, but after my rage subsided, I had to acknowledge that this beer is quite nice.

Serving type: can

05-20-2013 19:19:04 | More by devilben02

JimKal

North Carolina

2.98/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Pours a dark red brown with a tan two finger head. Leaves a lot of lacing as you drink it.

S: Malty aroma

T: This just didn't work for me. I do like this style but I think this one doesn't come close to the style. It does promise a hoppy taste and it delivers on that. But, it just didn't taste right to me. The hops and the malt just seemed to clash.

M: Decent medium to full mouthfeel.

O: I've had three of these on different days to see if my impression changed but this is one I won't be buying again. I had high hopes for it but it just doesn't work for me.

Serving type: can

04-28-2013 13:51:03 | More by JimKal

zeledonia

Minnesota

3.65/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.75

Tasted 6 April 2013.

Pours a deep, rusty orangeish red. Mostly clear, letting a lot of light through it. I can see the bubbles on the far side, but it's not like looking through glass. One finger of off-white head, decent retention and nice lacing. A solid ring of bubbles and half-cap on the surface.

Smell is really toasted, like a marzen. The most obvious thing I get in the nose is those biscuity toasted malts. It's not bad, but there's not a whole lot to it. Can says it's supposed to be hoppy; it is not. There's a faint herbal nudge in the back, but that's it.

Taste is more interesting. Has more of the Scotch ale twang. Earthy, not exactly peaty, but the mildly bitter black earth or black tea flavor that I get from a lot of Scotch ales. Also has an interesting honey-like sweetness, right in the middle, that fades out. There's a little bit of unpleasant bitterness that I'd like to wash away, and slants more towards that in the finish, but mostly I like it.

Feel is pretty flat. Ends up feeling like uncarbonated soda. Lasting, too. Flat to lightly syrupy/oily to watery.

Interesting beer. I like the taste, where that earth/tea flavor really shines, and the sweetness adds a lot of complexity to it.

Serving type: can

04-19-2013 06:38:44 | More by zeledonia

csparace

Illinois

4.21/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Appearance (4.00) – From a 22oz to a Matilda (my favorite glass ever). Pours a slightly hazy red amber. Epic amounts of carbonation coming to the top. Generous 2 finger head that hugs the sides as it fades. Really thick lacing coats the sides, honestly detracting from the appearance.

Smell – (4.00) Orange, malt, and mild hops present. A yeasty overtone to the combination. Roasted character is defnitely present.

Taste – (4.25) Initial impression is that of a roasted barley. Something seems really familiar but its hard to put a finger on it. There is a slight chocolate impression that comes later. A harsh caramel – that's it. The finish is surprisingly hoppy and you get a late crunch. Long after the sip you still have some crunch lingering.

Mouthfeel (4.50) Great carbonation level – it feels as it looks. Its has a medium to light heaviness to it. Lips are as sticky as if I were drinking a stout. There is a slightly sweet quality to it. Very satisfying to drink.

Overall (4.25) – This is pretty interesting to me. Its got a really awesome roasted flavor to it but then finished with the familiar hop crunch. Perfect carbonation levels. The appearance is quite nice too, except, the lacing it out of control. Its like an insulating lining on my glass.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 03:39:49 | More by csparace

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.74/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A: Pours a crystal clear medium garnet red in color with light amounts of visible carbonation and some dark amber highlights. The beer has a finger tall creamy light beige head that slowly reduces to a mottled surface of thin film with a thicker ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate to significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of toasted malts with light amounts of caramel sweetness and slightly stronger aromas of pine hops. There is a touch of citrus/orange rind hops as well once the beer warms up a little.

T: Upfront there are light to moderate flavors of toasted malts with some caramel, toffee, and brown sugar sweetness - but not overly sweet. That is followed by slightly stronger than moderate flavors of pine/resin and citrus/orange rind hops. Moderate amounts of bitterness which do not linger for too long.

M: Medium bodied with slightly more than moderate amounts of carbonation.

O: Overall this is an enjoyable beer and it hides the ABV pretty well, I enjoyed the hoppiness but still found it relatively easy to drink. Nothing exceptional but a better American offering in the Irish Red Ale style than I normally come across.

Serving type: can

03-27-2013 23:32:53 | More by dbrauneis

LXIXME

New Mexico

3.68/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Big light tan head settles into a nice lacing above a clearish caramel bronze colored beer.

Rich roasted caramel malt presence in the aroma with just a hint of some hops sticking around the edges.

Roasted caramel malts tastes that seem to almost border on burnt roasted, with also a bit of slight bitterness from its hops sources.

A light dryish roasted caramels hanging around aftertaste on the medium bodied Irish Red.

A decent tasting beer, maybe a little much on the hints of burnt malts but I like how the dryish aftertaste keeps building long after each drink.

Serving type: can

02-18-2013 23:49:12 | More by LXIXME

daliandragon

North Carolina

3.85/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This is a bomber from Aviator, just a few minutes down the road in Fuquay. Pours darker than most in the style, with a brown top and orange feet. head is eggshell colored and has copious lace but doesn't last long. Nose is floral hops over a foundation of caramel and toasted malts.

Strong malt flavors, with caramel and toasted morphing into coffee and baker' s chocolate before long. Hops are window dressing at first but shine on nicely in the aftertaste. The combination of English and west coast hops makes this unique.

Certainly not standard among the Irish Reds I have sampled in the past but definitely tasty and interesting.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2012 01:07:58 | More by daliandragon

beerenjoyer1

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Peabody's Wine and Beer in Boone, NC provided me with this beer.

A - Poured clean with little foam but left a slight ring of foam around the glass.

S - Definite malts with alittle sweet smell.

T - Malts up front followed by hoppy dry finish which more noticable as the beer warms to room temp.

M - Nice full flavor with malts and hops. Not as full as I might expect but good.

O - I do like this beer and I think will you too. There might be better Irish Ales out there but I feel that one cannot go wrong with the Aviator Hod Rod Red. Enjoy!

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 21:44:54 | More by beerenjoyer1