Red Rocket Ale

Family-owned Bear Republic has been brewing distinctive beers in Sonoma County since first firing the kettle in 1996. At almost 7% ABV, Red Rocket Ale can be described as a bastardized Scottish style ale. Though evincing some classic California style hop aromas, the nose is dominated by sugary caramel, shot through with whiffs of lightly roasted hazelnut. Pushing beyond the upfront caramel and nutty notes, Tim teased out some “tantalizing, ripe raspberry and sweet strawberry” esters and traces of “cacao and light roast coffee.” Lee got locked into the dank hop haze and had high praise for the way the “pungent, orangey hop tang” was perfectly integrated with “a big dose of caramel goodness.” As befits its Scottish antecedents, this brew pours a ruddy copper, interspersed with glints of brilliant ruby, all crowned by a mousse-like, creamy beige head. Leading off with a profoundly caramel malt flavor, this brew evolves in the glass, drifting between malty sweetness and puckering hop bitterness. Tom lauded the beer’s deft balance of sweet malt, sharp hop bitterness, and citrusy “tangerine and Clementine” flavors, pronouncing the beer “entirely too drinkable.” The complexity of the malt intrigued Pete, who likened it to “fresh baked bread with hints of treacle.” A quintessentially California style, Red Rocket is the ideal brew to celebrate the end of a long day as the sun sinks below the horizon.