The Bruery Loakal Red

From The Bruery – 75% American Red Ale, 25% Ale Aged in American Oak Barrels.

The Bruery – The Bruery Loakal Red – On tap at The Bruery – 6.9% abv.

Appearance: Pours a vibrant amber with a small tight head.

Aroma: Faint sugar sweetness (brown sugar or rock candy sugar perhaps) and oak barrel.

Taste: The first thing I noticed was oak. A little woody. Then a layer of sweetness that I found in the nose, rock candy sugar, maybe some spicy cinnamon candy as well. The beer finished with a nice punch of spicy hops. Between the hops and oak, I was pretty amazed. As noted by The Bruery, this is their first beer not using their proprietary yeast strain. Not mad at all about that.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, high carbonation, and a little bit sticky.

Overall: Something I could drink all day. I like a spicy hoppy red, and the oak put it over the top for me.