Gladstone Brewing- Red Ale

Gladstone Brewing- Red Ale Review

Gladstone’s Red Ale pours a deep amber with a solid off-white head that lingers with some lace. It has low carbonation and a medium body. Old school, west coast hops are immediately noticeable on the nose, followed by light caramel, a touch of raisin and burnt sugar. At 32 IBU’s, there is a light yet noticeable bitterness that balances the pleasant caramel flavour of the crystal malts. Wheat malts also play a part in the pillowy mouthfeel. Simcoe hops are the big player on the finish, showing pine and a touch of grapefruit and orange peel.

The essence of red or amber ales is the balance, specifically between the hops and the darker caramel malts. Gladstone Brewing seem to understand this with their very well made Red Ale. Red ales have become less and less prominent on the shelves these days and that is a bit tragic. Red ales should definitely have a place in your beer fridge, somewhere between the many IPA’s and the more malt forward styles. Certainly Reds are a great introduction to well used hops for those that disdain drinking anything labelled IPA.