After my last attempt at finding
a new micro-brewed beer that met up to my normally high standards,
I was starting to think that I should just stick with my usual
fare: Belgian and German imports intermixed with some old-standards
from California and the Pacific Northwest. However, my desire
to find top-notch bottled fare outweighed my horrible experience
with Turnbridge brewing, and I decided to take the plunge upon
my return to the beer mecca that is Table and Vine.
Half Stock Ale
The label scared me. After the whole Killian's Red/Red Dog/Red
Wolf craze of the mid '90s, seeing a bottle labeled "Irish
Red Style Ale" conjured up images of frat boys, not beer
connoisseurs. But for some reason, I decided to purchase a bottle
anyway... and I am quite happy to say that I have put my red-prejudice
behind me!
Half-Stock is more akin to a Scotch style than a "Red" beer (which historically is not used to characterize Irish beers, but sour Belgian Ales)... it is dark and malty with a rich, roasted flavor more akin to a porter. As I tasted the russet-brown brew, I was treated to a chocolatey sweetness, followed with a sweet malty taste that filled my mouth.
Because of the strong malts, I allowed the beer to warm up from the fridge temperature to something closer to a cellar temp (low 50s)... and that is when the flavors exploded. This beer went from being a nice treat to an absolute winner. At 50 degrees, the delicate hop aroma opened up and provided my nose with something as delicious as my tongue was experiencing. Definitely a winter beer when you need something to warm you after shoveling the driveway... and a nice substitute for a hot chocolate. (Avery Glasser)