Railbender Ale - Erie Brewing Co.

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.1/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Finely flecked kumquat with multiple streams of tiny bubbles leading up to a richly creamy cap that is somewhere between ivory and palest ecru in color. I'm not sure the beer looks all that Scottish, but then I'm not sure that Scottish ales have a typical look. Thin, sudsy sheets of lace are beginning to appear on the glass. I hope it tastes as good as it looks.

I pick up just a hint of earthy maltiness in the nose... and very little else. Again, there's nothing here that is especially Scottish. Actually, the brewery calls this an English old ale. Since that isn't a style recognized here, I'd say it fits English strong ale better than anything else. Maybe I'll change my mind once I actually taste it.

Now I'm not sure what the hell to call it since there's almost nothing of interest on the taste buds. Give me more to go on Erie. Railbender is caramel malt-dominant with a touch of earthy, probably English, hoppiness. It's sort of bock-like, but I'll still have to go with English strong ale for $100 Alex. A noticeable alcohol presence is further confirmation of that style choice.

Nothing really stands out within the flavor profile. There's more flavor than aroma, but the beer spins its wheels on the palate and can't seem to get any traction. It seems that an overhaul is in order. I'd keep the name and the cool looking train engine on the label though.

The mouthfeel impresses more than everything except the appearance. While it could stand to be a little more chewy (especially for the style that I've now bestowed upon it), it's smooth enough and supple enough to get me through the rest of the bottle with ease. The quiet carbonation is loud enough.

I can now say with finality that Erie Brewing Company beer is not to my liking. I bought three bottles during my last trip home to Ohio. After being disappointed by the first two, I placed what little hope I had left in Railbender. Unfortunately, it failed to meet me halfway. Not recommended.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2006 15:14:54 | More by BuckeyeNation

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.25/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pours out a slightly hazed, darkened amber-hued body with a wispy, white head.

Smell: Fairy malt-forward aroma, smelling of notes of toasted bread and sweet toffee. Notes of properly ripened fruit. A couple minutes of warming begins to impart some nutty accents.

Taste: Sweetish malty opening representing the toast and toffee found in the nose. Then, a bit of nutty peanut brittle slips in. Little crackle of fruitiness. Wee touch of hops. Some drying alcohol on precludes the modestly malty finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-plus carbonation.

Drinkability: A beer where, if it weren't for these notes, I would have forgotten about it entirely. It's acceptable, I suppose, but a bit of a disappointment, considering this is Erie's flagship beer. Ah well.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2010 18:12:30 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

3.38/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a fairly clear amber color with a very modest head that fades to a ringlet with only a few splashes of lace

Smell: Not sure I can put my finger on that aroma; there is some caramel and something herbaciously medicinal; also somewhat bready

Taste: Opens with a blast of caramel that builds and then flattens as some bitterness from the hops impacts it by mid-palate; after the swallow, the flavors surrender

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbination

Drinkability: Its just OK; easy to drink and easy to forget

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2008 00:16:04 | More by brentk56

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.18/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Railbender takes on a bright copper-amber color (a bit on the lighter side) with average head formation, retention, and no lacing (tough for Scottish Ales to do).

Aromas are very rich on the caramel malts. Sweet with toffee, syrups, caramel candies, and barley malt. A sweet bread, biscuity aroma also gives rise to the rich maltiness.

Flavors do much the same with the toffee and caramels leading the way. Sweet through and through with alcohol bitterness helping out in the reduced role of hops.

Malty and bready with sweetness heavy on the front end. Although the beer shows a froathy breadiness late, the sweetness eventually proves too much.

In the end, the beer is a nice but obscure ale that doesn't give as much earthiness, rich maltiness, or complex grains to compete with true Scottish varieties like Belhaven's Wee Heavy. Too much sweetness and not enough maltiness makes a big difference.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2010 04:55:48 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This was a big seller last night at the Pizza Plant quite popular with the patrons,poured a dull lighter amber with a thinner off white head.Fruity malt and brown sugar in the nose with some lighter sweet dough notes as well.Lightly sweet and somewhat fruity definently malt tilted,some brown sugar and cookie dough in the finish.Hmm not a bad ale quite good but seems its just misisng something to make it a real winner but still good as it is.

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2006 12:53:53 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A rough pour brings up a full, frothy ivory head over a clear, deep reddish-amber body. The head holds fairly well, then drops to a nice creamy collar, and leaves some nice lace throughout the glass. The aroma offers some nice soft fruit and gently spicy & floral hops above a mildly sweet malt. The body is medium with a very fine & moderate carbonation that leaves it creamy and smooth in the mouth. The flavor offers a softly sweet & gently caramel-tinged maltiness that's well-balanced by a thread of grassy hop flavor and a supportive bitterness. A touch of alcohol is sometimes noticeable but actually seems to add to the character of the beer rather than distracting from it. It finishes softly with a mild drying alcohol, a dull bitter note and a sticky maltiness. Nicely done, and actually quite unique. There's much more to this beer than the first impression gives. Worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2002 17:07:37 | More by NeroFiddled

WesWes

New York

3.9/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours an amber color with a thick frothy offwhite head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a dry and semi-musty malt scent that boasts of pale and crystal malts. It has some breadlike character. The taste is good. It has a nice malty flavor that goes down easy and finishes dry and breadlike. It's rich in crystal and bisquit malts with a light peated feel. The mouthfeel is good. It is a medium/full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a good drinking beer, but not the best Scottish style ale on the market.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2006 21:26:09 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

3.83/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Beer poured from a bottle without a born on date into a standard pint glass. Beer is red, really red, and slightly hazy. Head is thin and white, forms nicely but falls away quickly and is broken and diffuse. Does not leave lacing behind. The haziness may be due to yeast sediment, I did not notice.

Smells a bit yeasty. A lot like a red ale. There is almost a fruit like sweetness to the aroma but overall the aroma is rather weak. I'm not picking up much malt.

Beer is light in body and in flavor. Drinkability high, I will try to decipher the subtle of this beer. First, its not bad at all. Slightly bitter, slightly sweet. Bitterness lingers in the back of the mouth for a while. There again is some fruit like / sweet apple like character to the beer. Its interesting, but not my favorite.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2009 00:51:34 | More by drabmuh

zeff80

Missouri

3.55/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a somewhat cloudy, burgundy color with a soapy, with big bubbles, tan, one-finger head. It left small traces of lace.

S - It smelled of sweet caramel malts with an earthy quality.

T - It tasted very sweet with a roasted malt taste. It had an interesting grassy/mossy flavor.

M - A soft, smooth and somewhat creamy ale. A medium-bodied brew.

D - This is a pretty good scottish ale, but not the best. It is very drinkable, but not the best representation of the style.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2008 03:03:47 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

3.63/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: The beer is hazy coppery orange in color and has a light amount of carbonation along with some fine particles visible floating in suspension. It poured with a thin beige head that died down, leaving some lacing on the surface and a thin collar around the edge of the glass.
S: There are light to moderate aromas of caramel and butterscotch malts in the nose—these become stronger as the beer warms up.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and very malty but the caramel flavors are much more pronounced.
M: It feels medium-bodied and slightly sticky on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is a good representation of the style and isn’t that difficult to drink, especially since the alcohol is well hidden from the taste.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 05:37:45 | More by metter98

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.85/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On-tap 2/7/2011 at Track 84, in Warwick, RI, served in a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a light brown color, with a short off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains caramelized malts, vanilla, some fruit and a touch of hops.

T: The taste starts out sweet with flavors of caramel, vanilla and a little bit of fruit. The malt character is hearty and the hops presence is mild but it creates a good balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Smooth and crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, decent kick, good representation of style, this is a decent beer worth drinking for a while.

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2011 22:23:18 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Railbender pours out as a deep brown color with some red highlights. The smell of the beer gives off some earthy aromas along with some roasted sweet malts. The taste of the beer has some subtle dark fruit sweetness to it that's backed up but a dry toasty finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied. Overall it's not the best Scottish Ale out there but it might be worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2011 22:16:12 | More by Knapp85

Gavage

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: pours a cloudy amber color. A surface foam is the only head that appeared with the pour. No lacing arrives during the session.

Smell: caramel and ripe fruit sweetness is strong and easily detectable.

Taste: big caramel candy sweetness, ripe red grapes, red apples, and a hint of alcohol. Very little if any bitterness here, as this leans towards a sweeter than expected beer.

Mouthfeel: smooth from start to finish. Brief aftertaste as sweetness sticks on the tongue. Medium bodied beer.

Drinkability: decent but not great. This beer came across a bit too sweet for me, but its worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2007 23:23:04 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours hazed amber/bronze with a thin head that immediately becomes a thin, floating patch.

The smell is of caramel with earthy, slightly nutty, tones. Mild.

The taste is caramelish and biscuity. It has an earthy/slightly nutty background with a vague citric fruitiness and peppery spiciness. It is a bit boozy in the dry finish and slightly astringent with some carmelized maltiness rebounding in the aftertaste.

The body is a bit odd - some watery thinness but with a boozy kick and it almost reaches for medium at times.

I don't know how well this fits in with a Scottish Ale - In fact, I am very dubbious about this style. Seems like a strong...well...trying to be strong...old ale? I don't know. More English-type than Scottish-type. Who knows. Whatever. Regardless of style, this is mediocre anyway. It has a little bit of several things, but it doesn't all come together and there's not quite enough of anything (except maybe alcohol). Not "good" not "bad"...just there.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2007 22:44:40 | More by jwc215

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The ale is a hazy golden color with a thin head that does lace very nicely in the glass.

S: The ale has a strong malty aroma that has a strong undertone of sweetness. The sweetness is not from the malts but emerges from the alcohol and hops.

T: The unique aroma continues into the taste, providing a sweetness that accentuates an alcohol presence and a smooth hoppiness. The sweetness is unusual but good, a real change of pace in an ale.

M: The mouthfeel is very difficult to describe, as the sweetness is unusual and very flavorful.

D: The beer is odd, different in a good way. Well worth a look.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2006 23:07:30 | More by akorsak

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.18/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bit of an odd scotch ale. Pours dark amber with a little bit of a white head. Smells and taste of rich, carmelized malts. Not bad, but not that great either. No hops, but some fruit and bitterness (almost too much). An average scotch ale, nothing special.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2006 05:39:21 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I was pleased to see this one flowing on draft tonight at Lancelot's in Wintersville, OH...appears a copper amber tone with an off white cream head leaves nice lacing around my glass even with each sip. Aromatics mild caramel and warming nutty edge very light herbal hops rather clean with a slight mineral character as well. Flavor is clean with a good mix of hops and malts nutty caramel tone with a clean mild herbal hop finish. Mouthfeel is in the light to medium body range with moderate carbonation very nice stuff. Drinkability is really good stuff not the most complex brew but quaffable beer from up in Erie...one of my first bottle reviews I take it back not bad at all.

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2007 02:54:17 | More by WVbeergeek

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Good start to the head, but settles to rim-based bubbles. Leaves no permanent lace. The color is a beautiful copper-amber and is crystal clear.

Light caramel sugar from what I believe to be lightly toasted crystal malt. Mild alcohol nose. Some molasses; no hop smell.

True to form, this has a malted sweetness that is warm to the swallow without an extreme alcohol bite. There is a faint hop pepper in the swallow. The aftertaste is short but creamy. Rich bodied as expected. Overall, this is an example of the style and very easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2010 21:05:36 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

3.83/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy amber color, nice carbonation, nice little fizzy off-white head, not much sticky lacing at all. The nose is malty, with some slight spice, caramel. The taste is slightly sweet, malty, caramel, and some spice thrown in. Medium body. Drinkable, a tasty brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2008 23:25:01 | More by Wasatch

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

(Served in an American pint glass)

A- This beer has a clear deep aged copper colored body with a thin light tan head that fads to spots in the middle. There is a gentle carbonation of big bubbles that pop to the surface.

S- The soft toasted biscuit malt aroma has hints of chocolate malt and darker toast in the background with a pretty clean aroma overall.

T- This beer starts with a nougat note that leads into some brown malt and club soda flavor to the biscuit malt. There is a dull pine hop note at the finish.

M- There is a medium mouthfeel with a big fizzy finish that dilutes the little bit of hops in the flavor.

D- This beer has some nice malt flavors but there are some off flavors that take away from the flavor and the hops are kind of dull that make this beer taste a little drab.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2009 22:45:57 | More by rhoadsrage

Billolick

New York

3.78/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle, w/o freshness/bottling date indication. Pours clear, dull coppery amber. The head is slight, light khaki and quickly goes bye bye. Leaves just the faintest of tiny bubble films and minor bits of lace. The nose is equally non impressive, with just a moderate wiff of malt picked up. Malty brew, smooth and easy enough to knock back. A bit of smoke, a bit of earthyness and a respectable, maple tinged malt carraige. Easy drinking malty ale. NOthing earthshattering going on here, but decent enough. Would work as a stronger sessioner. Good to keep some of this type of sweater brew around for the base of a meaty marinade

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2010 22:12:21 | More by Billolick

mdfb79

New York

3.63/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From 12/18/11 notes. Shared by nmann08; thanks Nate. 12 oz. bottle into my Bell's tulip.

a - Pours a transparent dark amber color with one inch of white head and moderate carbonation evident. Some spotty lacing left on the glass.

s - Smells of nuts, caramel malts, fruity malts, and light spice.

t - Tastes of nuts, caramel malts, toasted malts, light cinnamon and spice, light fruit, and roasted malts.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation.

o - Overall a pretty nice beer. Lots of nuts and caramel malts and pretty easy to drink. Would have again.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 18:39:12 | More by mdfb79

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Another one from a big trade with Noslenwerd.

A: Pours nice pillowy head of 1/2 a finger. It's a super clear amber tan color with slight reddish hue and tons of bubbles rising from the bottom of my SA pint glass just enough to hold a light head covering.

N: Lots of sweet malts fill out the nose. Some sweet sugar and molasses. Slight toasty malts. Quite a bit like a Scotch ale or barleywine.

T: Starts with more maltiness, but not as sweet as I thought it would be. Some crystal, toasty malts, and almost porter roast comes through. Almost a hint of smoke. Some sweet sugar and rich molasses, but not much sweetness.

M: Pretty thick, rich, and syrupy, good carbonation for the style (light).

F: Finishes still heavy and slightly sweet, thick and syrupy as it lines the mouth very slightly. Slight bitterness. A nice drink, but not a lot to it. Lighter than expected for the style, although it has a nice mouth feel. Should have had some more booze, a little more sweetness, more flavors overall I think.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2010 23:03:43 | More by jlindros

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.28/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle purchased as part of a 6 pack at either Party Source or Brilbeck's, Syracuse, NY.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/4" tan head over the slightly cloudy dark amber brew. Head recedes gradually, with slow-falling lace. Aroma is rich, a touch of smoke, and a slight undercurrent of sour. Taste follows the nose, with tartness coming on at the close more than one would hope. Mouthfeel is soft on the tongue, and drinkability is pretty good. Wouldn't mind trying this one again.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2009 20:55:15 | More by ppoitras

weeare138

Pennsylvania

2.38/5  rDev -34.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Appears a transparent honey toned gold with a 2 finger fluffy white head that quickly fades out. Scattered lacing is left around the glass.
Smell is grainy, grassy, along with cake that's been drizzled with honey...interesting combination to say the least. I'm getting the feeling that this isn't the "Scottish Ale" (as BA claims...should be an English Ale as another reviewer posted) that I was getting into.
Taste is of bitter skunk weed with sugar and dishwashing soap. What the hell happened here?
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, very smooth, sweet up front before becoming bitter with a gritty, semi-dry finish.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2007 14:56:27 | More by weeare138