1881 - Ruhstaller

Fatehunter

Oregon

3.53/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Poured two fingers of tight, foamy head on a deep red colored body.
The aroma is a rich malt/barnyard smell. One-side but nice.
The taste is bold: lots of malt sweetness with a dose of lemon bitterness to balance it out. The maltiness still comes out ahead in the end.
The texture is thicker with moderate carbonation.
A big malty red ale, enjoyable.

Serving type: can

04-10-2013 02:15:36 | More by Fatehunter

TheSixthRing

California

3.34/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Pours a relatively clear, orange rust color with an off-white, half finger head and sub-par retention.

Smell - Not getting much. Slight bread. Touch of citrus.

Taste - Malts are bready, lightly toasted, with a drop of caramel. Mild grapefruit pith comes on near and into the finish.

Mouthfeel - Medium in body with low to fair carbonation. Smooth. Goes down easy.

Overall - Not a particularly impressive red, especially considering the price. Shows good balance, but the flavors don't excite the palate quite like they should. Quaffable, but kind of boring. This is the first time I've seen this beer in cans. It came out fairly flat... maybe they've got some kinks to work out?

Serving type: can

03-27-2013 06:15:30 | More by TheSixthRing

mactrail

California

3.78/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Very much in the middle of the Red/Amber field, with a dark coppery color and a raft of roam. Plenty of lacing and nicely carbonated in the mouth. Fairly light body.

The best feature is the slightly sweet and nutty flavor that greets the lips, gradually to be replaced by flowery hops. In a blind taste I'd peg this as a Pale Ale. Slight roasted flavor and some resiny hop hints. Moderate bitter aftertaste.

What I like about this is it's full of flavor but not overdone. The hops are flowery and spicy rather than acidic and harsh. The rather watery mouthfeel is an invitation to drink! From the 16 oz can purchased at Bine & Vine in San Diego.

Serving type: can

12-12-2012 03:30:02 | More by mactrail

UCLABrewN84

California

3.88/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear dark copper with a foamy khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy patches and streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt and some earthy and herbal hop aromas. Taste is much the same with a peppery flavor on the finish. There is a mild hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty and has some nice hop flavors.

Serving type: can

11-19-2012 00:56:20 | More by UCLABrewN84

PHBoiler

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

22 oz bomber poured into Sam Adams perfect pint

Deep amber color that delivers exactly as expected with a huge cream colored head regardless of type of pour.

The scent is fairly basic, but the hops do come through. The beer is very balanced and standard, well crafted red. This style can go all over the board, but this is a very true version. The local products utilized and noted on the bottle are a nice touch.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 05:22:31 | More by PHBoiler

elNopalero

Texas

3.8/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Update:
This was the red ale, although its tan-amber coloring made me think at first glance it was a malty IPA. It certainly has a mellow hop aroma more akin to an IPA whose hops have faded than a fresh red ale. There’s some caramel sweetness rounding out the flavor and a bit of a piney character to it as well.

Previously:
Thanks to XicanoBeerRun for this one. First time I’ve even heard of this brewery.

This pours a dark caramel-amber color, with light foam.
This has a piney, malty ‘red ale’ aroma—not too hoppy, not overly malty. Tasty too, a real easy sipper. It’s not as full flavored as the aroma would indicate. There’s a touch of piney hops, some light resin and a nice bittering to it which comes out midpoint.. Well-rounded and nicely balanced. I enjoyed it.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 07:01:37 | More by elNopalero

jb413

Massachusetts

3.65/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A - Great color, cloudy fruit punch with small head and a bit of lacing. Iced tea around the edges and when held in the light.

S - Medium hop-first nose, a bit of alcohol, and some light bready malt

T - Fairly good hoppy profile, with a bit of caramel/malty towards the end. Hops are a mix of piney, floral and some fruit on the end. Not quite one-dimensional but also not stellar.

MF - Light-medium body and nice finish. Wet-hop in the mouth.

O - A straight shooter. Decent hoppy red that's enjoyable but nearly forgettable.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 02:30:51 | More by jb413

kojevergas

California

3.08/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

1 pint 6 oz brown glass bottle with straw covered neck and standard pressure cap acquired at the Cap N Cork Junior Market in Los Feliz for $8.99 USD and served into a Uinta pilsner glass in me gaff in Los Feliz. Reviewed live. This is me first beer from this brewery. Expectations are average. I like the straw neck; it's a nice rustic touch - even if it is a gimmick.

Served straight from the fridge. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a 1.5 finger beige colour head of fairly good cream, nice thickness, and above average retention. Body colour is a clear translucent textbook copper. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. No lacing as the head recedes. Typical of the style; this is standard fare.

Sm: Toasted malt, floral hops, and malty sweetness. Very simple. An average strength aroma. No yeast character or alcohol is detectable.

T: Amber malts and accompanying sweetness, and floral hops. Some caramelized malt. Clean and pleasant, but incredibly simple. Lacks complexity and subtlety. I like it in a general sense. No yeast character or alcohol comes through.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Good carbonation. Decent thickness. Fair palate presence. Suits the flavour profile in a general sense.

Dr: Drinkable but forgettable. Very pedestrian. Priced very highly for its mundane quality. $8.99 for this? I wouldn't get this again. I'm glad the bottles are distinctive because it will be easy to avoid buying more from this brewery in the future. An underwhelming beer in the style.

C+

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 04:38:59 | More by kojevergas

flexabull

California

3.95/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Was pleasantly surprised to see this at a local grocery store. Have heard good things about this brewery.

Pours a clear and bubbly dark amber color with a fine white head.

Aromas are nice. Notes of hard candies, sweet citrus, and a touch of pine resin.

Taste is a bit unique. Notes of hard candies, strong caramel flavors, but not overly sweet. Finish is very earthy and slightly bitter.

Mouthfeel is smooth, but a touch thin.

Overall, a very nice amber ale, and a beer that is ultimately better than the sum of it's parts. I think with a bit more body this could be really good. Nice first beer from Ruhstaller, I'll be on the lookout for more of their offerings.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 03:09:20 | More by flexabull

Bobheed

Texas

3.3/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a burnt copper color with a very minimal off-white head

S: Not A very strong smelling beer, but I did get some pine notes as well as a nice caramel maltiness

T: Again I'm getting the piney flavors at first, a bit of citrus zest, and some nice caramel flavors. Finishes with a real nice citrus hop burst

M: Fairly thin, medium carbonation

Overall this was quite nice. A good example of an amber ale and it's always good to support local brewers

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2012 03:16:29 | More by Bobheed

Alevolution

California

4.35/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I've had Ruhstaller 1881 on tap and in the 22 oz. bottles quite a few times, and have always enjoyed it.

A: Deep red in color, with a creamy ivory head. The head is tight and firm, and lasts the entire glass.

S: Light pine and grapefruit / citrus.

T: Mild sweetness with a well-balanced malt and hoppy finish.

M: Crisp, refreshing, and medium bodied.

Overall, and excellent session beer from this new Sacramento brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2012 19:41:23 | More by Alevolution

mschind

California

3.65/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Poured from a 22 oz bottle with burlap wrapped around the neck. No date. Clear reddish amber with a two finger light tan head that slowly faded to a persistent thin cap that coated the glass during the tasting.

S- Piney hops dominate with malty undertones.

T-Slight sweetness up front with some hop bitterness in the finish.

M- Despite the nice head, this seemed a bit flat and on the thin side.

O- Always happy to see a new local brew. The label promises a dry and refreshing but flavorful ale. It doesn't quite make it as flavorful to my palate but it is very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 23:48:26 | More by mschind

jvillefan

California

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

First review for Ruhstaller!

A: A deep amber red with a ivory head that lasts the entire beer.

S: It has intense malt and hops but they are balanced perfectly.

T: The best amber I have ever had. It immediately hits you with a mixture of caramel and bitter hops. It is then followed by subtle malt and finishes with nice sweet finish.

M: Great carbonation and excellent retention.

O: Get this beer. It is what amber ales should taste like.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2012 04:11:34 | More by jvillefan