Brick Lane Red Hoppy Ale

Let's get one thing out the way quickly: this Red Hoppy Ale isn't actually that red. It sits somewhere between copper and amber. But, semantics out of the way, what's it actually like?

The first thing that comes to mind is brittle, albeit one low on the nuts, higher on the sweet, sugary stuff holding it all together. The meeting of specialty malts and fruity hops creates a mix of soft berries and nougat on nose, then dry, toasty, doughy malt and a touch of spice on palate. I'd go with American amber more than hoppy red; either way, it's another tightly presented beer within Brick Lane's core range.

James Smith