Bulldog Red Irish Ale - Cranker's Brewery

TastingRoomCharNtony

3.75/5  rDev +7.1%

01-19-2013 23:46:30 | More by TastingRoomCharNtony

Kerrie

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -7.1%

03-25-2013 01:30:52 | More by Kerrie

Pillowburn

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev +7.1%

03-12-2013 19:01:46 | More by Pillowburn

zenithberwyn

California

3.5/5  rDev 0%

12-27-2012 05:13:45 | More by zenithberwyn

StoutHunter

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I picked up a bottle of Cranker's Bulldog Red Irish Ale last week for $1.69 at The Lager Mill. I picked up both of their bottles since I'm willing to give any new Michigan brewery a chance, so lets see how it goes. No visible bottling date. Poured from a brown 12oz bottle into an imperial pint glass.

A- The label isn't that great, it's just a small picture of a Bull dogs face. It poured a nice dark amber color that took on some nice ruby hues when held to the light with a thin ring of head that quickly faded to nothing and left no lacing at all. This was a below average looking beer, the head and lacing were disappointing.

S- The aroma is pretty simple and start offs with some sweet malts that impart a sweet, caramel, brown bread, toffee, and some dark fruits with raisins sticking out the most. I also get a slight earthy aroma that may be from the hops. This beer smelled more like a Scotch Ale than a Irish Red Ale, not true to style, but not that bad, it's average.

T- The taste seems to be more true to style than the aroma and it starts off with loads of malts that have a slightly higher amount of medium sweetness to and impart a nice grainy, malty, caramel, light toffee, slightly nutty, and brown bread like flavors. I didn't pick up any hops on the finish with a light amount of bitterness and a very grainy and slightly sweet aftertaste. This beer tastes slightly above average and was pretty true to style.

M- Smooth, a little crisp, on the lighter side of being medium bodied with a good amount of medium carbonation. The mouthfeel was nice and true to style, which made it a little above average.

Overall I thought this was an ok beer and it's a slightly above average example of the style, the aroma seemed a little off for the style but the taste seemed to fit the style nicely. This beer has ok drinkability, I could drink a couple of these but the flavors don't hold my attention that well, but it's pretty easy drinking. What I liked the most about this beer was the taste, it was nice and pretty true to style. What I liked the least about this beer was the appearance, the color was nice, but the head and lacing were shitty. I might buy this beer again, it's better than a Killians, but I would rather have Samuel Adams Irish Red, it's worth a try if you like the style. All in all this beer was just ok, it needed some hops to bring some balance to this beer. I'll be interested to see what Cranker's comes out with next, the hope the quality gets better.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 04:42:24 | More by StoutHunter