Monday, January 31, 2011

Loakal Red by The Bruery


Loakal Red. American Red Ale. The Bruery. Placentia, California.

Fall 2010.

The name "Loakal" is a play on the words "local" because it is only available locally (ie, only in Orange County) and "oak" because 25% of it is aged in oak barrels.

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
75% American Red Ale, 25% Ale Aged in American Oak Barrels. A brash American Red ale, dripping with citrusy Centennial hops, mellowed by a touch of oak. Aromas of toffee, citrus, crushed herbs, vanilla and fresh-sawn oak.

My review on RateBeer:

3.7 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
AHTOH (1) - San Diego, California, USA - OCT 23, 2010
750 mL bottle purchased at Bruery Provisions in Orange, CA. Sipped out of Bruery tulip. Pours nice opaque dark amber color. Impressive Belgian lace for an amber, definitely above average. Head retention duration was above average with clusters forming and maintained until glass finished. Outstanding aroma. Toffee is definitely pronounced. Sweet caramel-y deliciousness. Subtle hints of oak present with somewhat more subtle vanilla discernible. Quite hoppy for an amber. Perhaps the base beer is similar to Alesmith’s Halloween seasonal beer, Evil Dead Red, in terms of hoppiness and ABV (6.66% vs 6.9%), though, overall, Loakal Red is a much more complex beer, especially given that a portion of it is barrel aged. Given Bruery’s focus on Belgian style ales, expected more Belgian/yeasty taste, perhaps like a Rare Vos by Ommegang. However, the hop character definitely overpowered any potential yeasty flavor(s) that may have been present. Slightly hoppier than I would have preferred though overall an amazing ale, with especially outstanding aroma.