Yankee Brew News Archive

Yankee Brew Review: A Lip-Smacking Bitter

Originally Published: 08/96

By: Gregg Glaser

Beer: SoNo Red Ale

Brewer: Keith Symonds, New England Brewing Company, Norwalk, CT

Appearance: Amber. In fact, it's very close in color to New England Brewing's flagship beer, Atlantic Amber. It's not "red," like all those other "red" beers: instead it's its own "red." After all, there's no use copying the color spectrum. (When asked if the color of this beer was his April Fool's joke, the brewer just smiled.)

Aroma: Pink grapefruit. Cascades tempered by Tettnanger hops.

Taste: Smacks of freshness with the hops. This is a true special bitter. The Nurse says it's a beer that makes one ready to give up one's British passport.

Summary: This is the sort of beer where you can wallow in the dry hop sensation. A damn good bitter.

Brewer's Notes: Brewed with pale and caramel malts and a touch of unmalted roasted barley; Cascade, Northern Brewer and Perle hops for bittering, Willamette hops for flavor and Cascades and Tettnanger hops for finishing and dry hopping; 11.5 degrees Plato; 4.8% ABV.