Why we picked it: Rated a 93 at Total Wine.
About Red Nectar: Boasting a ruby hue and an exquisite floral aroma, Red Nectar is a robust yet elegant brew with distinctive accents of toasted malt, caramel, spice and residual sweetness.
The beer that started it all… Red Nectar was considered a strange bird when it was first released in 1987. After all, where did a robust, handcrafted all-natural amber ale fit into the massive flock of American industrial lagers? Answer: it didn’t. So it blazed its own trail, helping set the pace for the craft brew revolution.
Enjoy Red Nectar for its dazzling reddish copper hue, original flavors and caramel spice accents.
Style: American Amber Ale
ABV: 5.4%
Color: 22.0L (Red)
IBU: 35.0 (Medium)
Fermentation: Fermented in 100% stainless steel with Humboldt Brewing’s original house yeast strain
Malts: Premium Two Row, Wheat Malt, Crystal 75
Hops: Bittering - Chinook, Late Kettle - Mt. Hood, Cascade
Case Cost: $39
*website: http://www.nectarales.com/?page=red-nectar
I've been advised by my blog advisors that I'm not allowed to use the term "meh." I'll go with "ugh." I wanted to like this as I'm generally a fan of the color red. The Washington Capitals Rock the Red. The future Big Ten Champion Maryland Terrapins sport the red (and white and black and gold). I'm wearing a Red Hot Chili Peppers t-shirt right now. But this beer was bland and disappointing.
ReplyDeleteNot sure how you get bland. I'd like it blander. Those caramel spice accents are just not necessary. It's just got a really weird aftertaste. I still like it, but I wouldn't buy it and if I was on Dave's deck rummaging through his random cooler of beer, I would set this one to the side and see if I could find something better. However, I would be willing to return to it. 5th out of 5th but still leagues ahead of James and the Giant Peach and the Watermelon Fiesta and some of that other crap we had in June.
ReplyDeleteBetter than the dog beer but that's not saying much.
ReplyDeleteI second the weird aftertaste. But the initial taste is pretty all right.
ReplyDeleteNot bad for a beer called Red Nectar! Still falls short of the VA beer, slightly above the goose and way better than the choco lab beer.
ReplyDeleteNot a fan, definitely an unwelcomed aftertaste. Aftertaste seemed pale aleish to me hence why I did not enjoy this beer. I will finish it of course, I would not order this beer when out and about. If offered, I would politely accept one and then ask for anything else with alcohol for a second round.
ReplyDeleteSo I see the label on my beer and I immediately break out into a cold sweat. Oh oh Nectar, I remember all the summer beers with Nectar on the label as mere ingredients but this one has it in big bold letters. I hated the beers that had nectar as an ingredient so I waited as long as I could before opening this and tasting it. Hmmm, not too bitter, not too hoppy, where is the nectar taste?? And then KABLAM! I could not get rid of the aftertaste and I drifted off to a dreamy summer day eating strawberries with sparkling water . . . . wake up people, this is the 24 days of winter beer not some Spring Fling in High School. This reminds me of Bartle and James; it sucked then and Nectar in beer sucks now.
ReplyDeleteRating: 2
Hated it after the first sip. Grew on me around sip 30. Maybe because I was almost done with it. Agreed with the weird aftertaste too. What is that?!
ReplyDeleteTied with Miller Lite.
ReplyDeleteThis beer was terrible! It tasted like licking a dirty ashtray that someone left a Ludens cough drop in. This is crap! I'm actually glad that I have to work tomorrow so I get a 24hr break from the horridity that are this years beers. Can't wait to see what Friday brings.
ReplyDeleteThis an odd one. A little hoppy with a lot of flavors going on, but pretty much no body. It smells nice, but the aftertaste lingers on and on and on. Due to the hops, I don't really hate it, but this won't be on my beers-to-buy list anytime soon. Grade: 4.5/10
ReplyDeleteStrangely I liked this one. I think the name threw people off. Wouldn't drink more than a couple though since its so sweet.
ReplyDeleteGrade: $15 worth of Taco Bell at 3AM
I actually like this beer. Little surprised by the negative reaction. I like an ale that's not too heavy. I thought I would hate it, the way I hate Killian's, but this was a lot more tasty than I thought it would be. Not sure what aftertaste you all mentioned.
ReplyDeleteWho knows?! It was the first of four tonight for me. It was the worst of the four I had, so that isn't a good rating. Not horrible, but not really worth dealing with.
ReplyDeleteThis was nice. I enjoyed the hint of sweetness, although I guess I am in the minority since I also remember liking many of the summer beers...although perhaps not the watermelon one. I did not get a bad after taste from this one. I would drink Ivan's so he could avoid being impolite.
ReplyDeleteThey claimed to have blazed the trail in craft brew revoloution, but I say the first one to try something is not always the best. It takes trial and error to succeed 99.9% of the time and for every Lewis and Clark there was a Greg and Steve before them. Maybe their other beers are better as they perfected their art but this one should have gone back to the drawing board. 4 our of 10
ReplyDeleteI paired mine with an Oreo McFlurry... Of course, that probably through off my palate and was why I didn't pick up on the sweetness of the beer...but who cares--- beer and ice cream. I had a Fat Tire vibe...so, my two word critique is: Flat Tire. BTW--I find myself not so much looking forward to tomorrow's beer as much as Joe Maurelli's incisive reviews.
ReplyDeleteI actually like this one. Maybe Claire and I can share the one that Ivan politely declines.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this beer. It went down well and loved the taste. For some reason I didn't think this beer was going to be that good. It's not a session beer that I could have 8-10 of, but could easily see myself drinking a few of these at a time. Might be a good beer to have to mix it up when I'm looking for something different to drink. Rating 8 out of 10, strong B
ReplyDeleteDid not like this amber. Most ambers are pretty boring. This one was boring with a nasty aftertaste. A after taste that kept changing as it lingered... very poor decay. D+.
ReplyDeleteIt tasted like soap.
ReplyDeleteCatching up - decided not to drink beer last night after the three martinis I had in the afternoon. As for the beer, it was ok. Agree with the weird aftertaste and the comment that it has a flat body for something with so much flavor. Would probably not drink more than one of these. Unless it was the only beer around in which case I'd have 11.
ReplyDeleteIf scoring on just taste, this is probably a B-. I don't drink a lot of red ales and sort of dorked out a bit on the color and aroma of this one. That nudged the score up to a B. I wouldn't seek this beer out, but I certainly wouldn't mind stumbling upon another one this holiday season.
ReplyDeleteI slipped a day on this one, but need perfect attendance for headmaster Katy. I actually enjoyed it, fruit beers are the BOMB
ReplyDeleteYour effort is noted.
DeleteAfter reading all these interesting comments, I was getting worry about it!
ReplyDeleteBut I guess not everyone is in tune. This is quite a nice American Ale, it is robust yet elegant brew with notes of malt caramel, spice and residual sweetness. Very floral with a beautiful color! Good choice! it is different but classic, I like it! Rated 6.9/10
2 more face plants and chicken wings and 9 straight losses at pool... damn victory... I'm supposed to take the pmp tomorrow!
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