Northbound Pride Red Ale

Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub Pride Red Ale. 6.3% ABV. 25 IBU.

Okay, here we have one, at last, that you can go out and drink right now,…that is, if you visit the brewpub when a week or so of this posting. Give or take. We'll see. People do like beers like this, just as much as they love the hops. We can't pigeonhole the tastes of the entire community, much as some may try.

So, let's crack a growler and pour a pint.

Clear and crimson-colored, under a small, but steady beige head.

Aroma:  sweet malty aromatics greet the nose, fairly fruity, (don't take that the wrong way). Some caramel tones, too, to blend with the cherries and berries.

Taste: just a dainty kiss of hop bitterness at first, then the malt takes over and dominates the palate. Light to medium bodied, and exceptionally smooth and easy-drinking. Exceptional balance, though the sweet malt remains firmly in control. It's one of my favorites malts at work, Special B, the type employed in Belgian abbey dubbels and strong dark ales, though it's not in the company of the yeast and hops used in those. Tasty one, though, tasty-tasty one.

It's a right-on-the-money, easy-pleasin' red ale. Doesn't matter that it's not for me, there's plenty of folks who don't desire the hops as much as I and my ilk.

Here's what the brewer says about it: Pride Red: 6.3% ABV., 25 IBU. This was the malty option we brewed last year that happened to be released around the Pride Festival. It was so popular we are making it an annual brew for Pride Weekend. Pride Red is an American Red Ale. The malt complexity and color comes from Special B malt. Special B gives a toffee, raisin/prune flavor profile. There are no finishing hops, only a small buttering addition to balance the sweetness of the malt. Although there are several specialty malts in this beer, Special B is the malt that is showcased.