River Falls Red Ale

A respectable venture into the classic Irish Red Ale style, Thomas Creek’s version shines with an attractive red/orange color and a moderate ivory head. Excellent clarity also shows through. Wisps of biscuit, woody English-style hops, fruity notes, toffee, bread crust and caramel make up the initial aroma outline. Irish Reds tend to lack deep, bold flavors, and Thomas Creek’s version follows suit with quite subtle palate notes of malt, bread, toffee, fruity esters and caramel. Cristina mentioned, “The malt seems fairly sweet alongside a hop flavor that’s a bit perfumey and soapy and lends to substantial dryness in the finish.” Phil noted, “Malt and a hint of sweetness are balanced by a dry roastiness that’s almost indiscernible from the light hop bitterness, but this makes a nice counter-play to the malt expression.” Chris detected “candy-like sweet hints that linger and a fruity quality,” while Owen cited a “honeydew melon ester undertone.” Drinkable and inoffensive, Thomas Creek’s red ale offers a subtle flow of flavors from a hint of initial sweetness to a somewhat dry, hoppy, slightly roasty ending. With less caramel and yeast character than some interpretations, this ale fills the bill as a straightforward thirst quencher – very unsullied and drinkable – bottle after bottle.