Tasting Notes

Sam Adams Barrel Room Collection

Stony Brook Red

9%ABV

Of the Sam Adams Barrel Room Collection, I have enjoyed both the New World Tripel and the thirteenth Hour Stout. I naturally expect to enjoy the Stony Brook Red. 

The bottle opens with a reassuringly loud pop, evidence of ample carbonation. The beer, served in a tulip glass, pours a deep reddish brown with about a half inch of thick, lingering tan head. Aromas of sweet malt and spiced fruit balance nicely with notes of oaky vanilla and balsamic vinegar. The first sip brings a wave of refreshing, yet tart, goodness that I have come to expect from any Flemish red or Oud Bruin. Flavors of tart cherry jump out first and are followed by toasty oak and vanilla, rounded off by a lingering sweet and sour, but dry finish.

As a sour beer aficionado, I am really impressed by the offering from Sam Adams Barrel Room Collection. If you enjoy an occasional Rodenbach or Vichtenaar, then Stony Brook Red is definitely a beer for you. However, if you are new to the Flemish red style, this beer is a great choice for an introduction. Get one, share it with your friends and discuss. I guarantee someone will leave a
fan!

Beer guru Rick Swartz, a manager in Vero Beach. Follow him on Twitter @abcbeerRick for everything new in Beer Country, and watch for his posts here.