New England Series: Woodstock Inn Brewery Red Rack Ale

There is nothing like a good red ale, be it the traditional style with the focus on the malt or the new age, ultra hoppy version. Oddly enough it is a lot harder compared to many other styles to find red ales...anywhere. They are obviously out there, but not in as much abundance as styles like IPAs and stouts. When I do come across one, I always find myself fighting the urge not to get it. When filling a mix 6-pack at the Craft Beer Cellar the other day, I saw Red Rack Ale, which I assumed was a red ale. I was looking for New England breweries, and this one just so happened to be brewed in New Hampshire so I thought, "Why not?" After some quick google work, I found out the Woodstock Inn Brewery in North Woodstock, New Hampshire is a small, seven-barrel brewery that operates in an inn style hotel. I do believe they brew larger batches at Shipyard's facilities as well because the bottle says brewed at Shipyard, but I don't think Shipyard actually owns them or anything of that nature.

Red cross roughly
marks N. Woodstock

Red Rack Ale poured more on the dark orange/red side of amber rather than the true brick red you see in many other red ales. A creamy head sat atop for a while and sank down a bit and became rather rocky. Bubbles seemed to be coming from all over the bottom of the glass, racing to the top. The aroma was rich with malt sweetness and caramel. Earthy and grassy notes with some hop bitterness linger in the background. In line with the scent, the flavor immediately fills your mouth with caramel sweetness until a strong bitterness accompanied by an earthy/grassy/herbal element enters in for the finish. Though being labeled a red, the bitter element gives the feeling that you are drinking an ESB (extra special bitter) with a malt profile somewhat resembling that of a red (but without the breadiness that is usually prevalent).

This ale was very drinkable and would make for a good choice if looking for a beer to session. Not that it matters all that much, I wouldn't necessarily say Red Rack Ale is in line with the red ale style (which the brewery ascribes it as), though it definitely had some of the sweet malt elements that red ales exhibit with a bit of the hop elements from an American styled red. All in all, I am glad I got to try this beer from such a small New England brewery.