West Coast Tripping? (FNP #50)

Red Rocket Ale
6.8% ABV
Bear Republic Brewing
Healdsburg, CA

What's with the first three Friday Night Pints being from the west coast anyhow? 

I am a HUGE fan of Bear Republic's Racer 5 IPA, but have tried very few (if any) of their other offerings (see previous posts about hops addiction...), so I wasn't at all hesitant about trying the Red Rocket Ale.  Despite its name, and the claim to be a "bastardized Scottish style red ale", this beer reminds me more of a brown ale than anything else.  It is bottle conditioned and unfiltered, which often makes for an interesting beer.  The deep mahogany color is impressive, as is the ridiculous off-white head I ended up getting out of my over zealous pour!  Light hops and a nutty, roasty sort of aroma meet the nose in a pleasant, balanced way.  There is a surprising sourness in the first sip, along with mild hops and strong malt flavors.  A nice dose of hops keep my taste buds from running away, and make the beer well balanced.  The mouth feel is surprisingly light making it a pretty good alternative to other "summer" beers. Increasing bready malt aromas and flavor emerge as the beer warms.  My "pinter" in crime describes the beer as "smooth", and I would not disagree.

Red Rocket is a solid, smooth beer that certainly was a fine ending to my week. If you are looking for a beer with an interesting array of flavors and aroma, it's definitely one to try if you haven't already!

Cheers!
Becky