Cranky Reviews

Ember not Amber

Red IPA

Beer Type

11 to 14

11 to 14

Honourable Mentions

Rating

IBU 50

Other Info

Ember not Amber

Burning Ember

Lake of Bays Brewing Co.

5.6% Alcohol

I love me an amber. An ember, not so much. But this Burning Ember is a Lake of Bays Red IPA so maybe it will be an ember to remember. The brewers will explain a red IPA with a lot of technical mumbo jumbo but basically it’s more malts to go with the hops. Another wannabe amber perhaps? Perhaps.

“Tangerine and orange peel notes bolstered by a touch of herbs and wood,” they tell us. What kind of weird citrus herb wood combo is that?  “Taste the great outdoors” they tell us. Maybe they haven’t looked outside lately but from where I’m sitting spring hasn’t sprung and the great indoors is where I want to be at the moment. Looks like I’m getting cranked up for a cranky review.

It pours rosé as opposed to red, even though it is looking tangerine orangy in the pic. A  bright white fire extinguisher foam head to control the fire down below.** Fruit and hops on the nose, it smells a bit tart, not another sour in disguise I hope.

Hops, next to no fruit and a bit of a chalky aftertaste. The chalky finish turns to a hoppy grapefruit bitter finish? A refresher, it’s hopful and I’m hopeful.  Malt, fruit body with the alternating finish makes for a very complex IPA that reminds me at times of a pale ale. It also reminds me of life, because I’m 3/4s of the way through it and still haven’t figured it out.

Now I’m finished this brew and still no great revelations. I guess the point is that the beer is the journey.

*Editor’s Comment: “The Fire Down Below” is a song by Bob Seger from his 1976 album Night Moves. It is about the prostitution industry. Not to be confused with the 1957 movie “Fire Down Below” starring Robert Mitchum and Rita Hayworth, or the 1997 Steven Segal movie of the same name.

Final Rating: Ember Burning and Earning a 13 out of 20

Red IPA

Beer Type

11 to 14

11 to 14

Honourable Mentions

Rating

Other Info

IBU 50

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