Rock it with Red Rocket

Last week I participated in the local brew session and wrote about a brewery here in the state I live in.  Today I decided to review a beer from a brewery that I wish was right next door.  Bear Republic is located in Healdsburg, CA bucking the norm of making wine in the heart of Sonoma in favor of producing some great beers.  I first discovered the brewery and Red Rocket Ale at a homebrew club meeting in Houston.  We were tasting Scottish ales and someone who had recently been to CA brought back a few bottles for the tasting.  The beer stood out from the crowd (not exactly 100% to style) and I made an extra effort to visit the brewery on a trip to SF a month later.  That gave me the opportunity to try all of the beers on tap at the brew pub and I quickly became a t-shirt wearing fan.  Luckily others agree with me and distribution of Red Rocket, Racer 5, and Hop Rod Rye has expanded to the Midwest (all great beers!).  In fact, they are even expanding to a new facility to meet the demand.

Here is how Bear Republic describes Red Rocket on their website:

This fiery red ale is not for the weak at heart. It originally started out as a Scottish red ale but has taken on flavors of its own. This is a very complex recipe using five different grains to achieve its unique flavor. The caramel malt used is a mixture of Belgian Caravienne and Hugh Bairds Crystal malts. Red Rocket is a full bodied, hoppy brew which finishes on the pallet with caramel malts. Centennial and Cascade hops are used for bittering and aroma.

Just reading the description makes my mouth water.  I always drop a bottle or two in the cart when I see it at the store.  Enough talk....let's get to tasting.

• Specifics: 22 oz. bottle, og 1.067, ABV 6.8%, IBU 65+
• Appearance: Red with hints of brown, A nice tan head rose to about 1/4 of an inch and slowly gave way to a thin creamy layer on top, Slightly hazy
• Aroma: Mix of roasted grains, toffee, and some floral hops, Very nicely intertwined and inviting
• Taste: The carbonation hits the tongue up front leading to a quick bitterness that gives way to a number of malt flavors including caramel, toffee, and some nuttiness; The hop bitterness is present throughout never hiding behind the malt flavors and lingers as the malt flavors fade; Very well balanced without either hops or malt dominating at any point

Overall, this continues to be one of my favorite beers.  I can't wait to get back out to NorCal to try it fresh from the source.  If you are in the Sonoma area and cannot make it all the way up to the brewery, don't worry.  The 7-11 just off the square has a nice selection of Bear Republic 22's chilling in the beer fridge waiting to go home with you.  Yep...I did say 7-11.  Now if only all 7-11's had such good taste in beverages!