Twisted Pine Brewing Company's Red Mountain Ale

Pours a fairly deep red, almost brown, with a nice tan head that stays. Smells like a pretty strong pale, with grassy hops and a sweeter than normal malt for an amber/red.

The taste is back down to a red though. Standard amount of bitterness that is less grassy than the smell, and no real sweetness. Instead, more of a grainy malt taste that suits the style well. A bit watery in the feel, is my only complaint, and otherwise it's a pretty good red.

Summit Brewing Company's Horizon Red Ale

Pours right. Reddish, to almost brown, actually. Light tan head that stays well. Decent enough smell, slightly sweet and crisp, with a raw hops smell as well.

Not bad. A bit harsh, maybe, like the raw smell indicated, but overall it';s pretty good. I've had a few Summit beers and was surprised to see that I haven't posted about them, but this one is my favorite so far, from what I remember.

Laguinitas Brewing Company's Imperial Red Ale

Finally, a Lagunitas beer without a stupid name.

Pours a deeper red than most, so that's another step in the right direction. Decent enough tan head that thins to a sheet, which is fairly standard for a red/amber.

Nice, sweet smell. Kind of a light, floral hops, which adds to the sweet smell. Not bready, or grainy, just sweet.

Good hit, close to an IPA. The hops are grassier than I expected, which I guess is what makes it taste like an IPA to me. Sure, it's basically an amber and an imperial amber is basically an IPA, but still. And because of the sweetness, it also reminds me of a substantially lighter Old Foghorn, from Anchor.

Very nice beer. I like just about everything Lagunitas brews, just not what they call them.

Rahr and Sons Brewing Company's Rahr's Red

I wanted to do an update on this beer because this bottle is so much different from the one I reviewed about a month ago. Even though it came from the same six pack, and went into the same glass...

This one poured the way it should. It didn't foam, and didn't have large floaties in it. Medium amount of reddishness, it looks like a straight amber, but has a good tan head that gets pillowy and fades slowly with good carbonation.

Smells like a solid, hoppy amber. Slight malt to it, but a crisp bitterness that comes from the hops. More of a raw grain smell than bread in the malt.

Good bitterness up front, slightly less body than an amber which is what I have come to see as the characteristic that sets reds apart from ambers. Yes, I know they're different colors too, but I'm talking about substantive issues. Part of having a little less body means having a little less follow through in the taste. The malt doesn't help it stick around for long, and it fades quickly to a zippy, slightly bitter aftertaste.

I like you Rahr and Sons Brewery, but so help me God if your consistency doesn't pick up I will quit you.

Lagunitas Brewwing Company's Lucky 13 Mondo Large Red Ale

Well, I get the horseshoe on the label, but why isn't the chick a red head? It would make a better pin up, too.

Pours a beautiful coppery red with a small-celled light tan head that stays and has decent carbonation.

Strong hops for a red, which is a bit odd. Very grassy and crisp.

Big body. Combined with the hops this would be at least an IPA from many breweries. Sure, it's red, but it's bigger than a red should probably be.

It's a good beer, don't get me wrong, it's just not a red.

Rahr and Sons Brewing Company's Rahr's Red

I always try to buy a Texas beer when at the store, so I was glad to see this one come back. Rahr has solid beers, and I've liked every one of them except for their Summertime Wheat, which is too Belgian for me but otherwise I bet pretty good.

This one pours a moderate, coppery red. Too foamy. Unusual for one of their beers, and I hope it doesn't throw off all of the taste as the head recedes. Took several slow pours to empty the bottle. The pillowy tan head would have been just right otherwise.

Lots of large floaties, including one or two stuck to the side of the bottle. Combined with the heavy foam, it looks like this one is infected. I don't think this beer is bottle conditioned, and even if it is these are fairly large chunks. Damnit.

Good smell. Slightly spicier and more peppery than a straight up amber. Malt is lighter than I think it should be though.

This one is soapy (no, it's not my glass, which was clean), and I think I'm gonna' stop there. I've had this beer in the past and enjoyed it. Something's wrong with it, I think.