Coaster Critique: Red Flannel Ale

Name: Red Flannel Ale

Brewed By: Penobscot Bay Brewery

ABV: 8%

Style: American Brown Ale

Purchased: Burby and Bates

Red Flannel pours a dark, shadowy chestnut color with a huge khaki colored head that settled but did not die, this bottle seems very carbonated.

The nose is malty, picking up some biscuit, a touch of dark chocolate and some fruity notes. The hops are coming through with a subtle earthy aroma. Alcohol mingles in there as well but isn’t a prominent aroma.

First sip is malty, sweet like caramel and brown sugar, but the sweetness isn’t overpowering, the carbonation seems to lift it off your palate so it doesn’t become overwhelming. Mid sip there is a faint dark cherry flavor that reminds me of a Belgian Dubbel. The beer finishes with a slight bitterness that isn’t really a flavor so much as feeling on the back of your tongue.

Overall a nice beer to sip on a cool Maine evening, like the clothing it’s named for, this one will warm you up. I was surprised by the complexity, it wasn’t what I was expecting out of a brown ale and I like that. Look for a bottle at your local bottle shop or check out the Penobscot Bay Brewery’s website for hours and visit for a growler.

Cheers!

Chaddah

Chad Lothian

About Chad Lothian

Chad Lothian lives in Old Town, Maine. He is a craft beer enthusiast and homebrewer. Chad has travelled to brewpubs, breweries and brewfests all over New England.