When I reviewed Rising Sun Pale Ale from Baird Brewing Company, I also purchased a few more of their offerings including Red Rose Amber. This is a delicious amber ale with an inviting aroma and malty yet hop-spicy flavor. I actually enjoyed this amber ale more than their Pale Ale.The brewery describes this beer as follows:

The Red Rose is a most original Amber Ale – the result of high fermentation (with ale yeast) at an unusually low (lager-like) temperature. This robust, rich brew, with fruity, malty flavors, is nonetheless crisp, refreshing, and dry. As a rose – extravagantly layered, expansively fragrant, and just a bit prickly.

Date Reviewed. October 1, 2009.

Where I Found It. City Beer Store, San Francisco, CA.

Serving Type. 12 0z. bottle into a glass.

Appearance. Rose Red Amber Ale has a foamy head with a color like that of buttermilk pancakes batter. The head has some lasting power but does not leave a trace on the glass. The color of this beer has a brown-orange oak hue and is very clear. Even more clear if you don’t pour the sediment into your glass.

Smell. The hop bouquet is floral with a tinge of grapefruit citrus and maybe a little spicy. The floral and citrus sweetness is enhanced by a sweet malty, biscuit, amber aroma. There also seems to be a very subtle hint of white grapes, which makes me wonder if they used Nelson Sauvin hops. The smell is very inviting.

Taste. Red Rose Amber Ale is almost exactly what you would expect from the aroma and a little more. The flavor has sweet roasted malt and biscuit flavor juxtaposed by a spicy hop bitterness. This beer is actually a bit more bitter than I expected and I like it. The malt sweetness and floral qualities seem to give a hint of grape again in the taste but just a hint.

Mouthfeel. This is a medium to light bodied beer with a dry finish but the dryness does not mean flavorless because this beer is packed with flavor. It might be a bit too dry for my preference. The carbonation in this beer is very strong  but gives a foamy feeling in the mouth.

Drinkability. Red Rose Amber Ale is crisp, malty, and bitter with a great nose making it very drinkable. The hop bitterness can intense but fades nicely just as you’re ready for the next bottle.

Rating. My ratings below are on a five point scale with five being the best score.

• Appearance (20%): 4.0
• Smell (20%): 4.0
• Taste (40%): 4.0
• Mouthfeel (10%): 3.5
• Drinkability (10%): 4.5
• Overall: 4.0

Information

• Style: amber ale
• Brewery: Baird Brewing Company
• Alcohol by volume: 5.4%
• Beer Advocate rating: 4.03 (as of May 16, 2010)

Other Reviews

• Beer Advocate - Red Rose Amber Ale
• Rate Beer – Baird Red Rose Amber Ale

Baird Brewing started in 2000 by Bryan and Sayuri Baird and is located at the base of My. Fuji in Numazo, Japan. The brewer’s website describes this beer as follows:

This quenching brew is crafted in the American west-coast style. It sports a beautiful soft citrus hop aroma which gives way to a round, honeyed-fruit flavor. The finish is crisp and refreshing.

Where I Found It. I found this beer at City Beer Store in San Francisco, CA.

Serving Type. I poured the contents of a 355 ml (12 oz.) bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance. The head of Rising Sun Pale Ale has the typical egg-shell white color and lasts an average amount of time. The color is a nice orange caramel color but the clarity is semi-cloudy. It was even more cloudy when I forgot to stop pouring and emptied the bottle conditioning yeast into the beer.

Smell. The hop bouquet has a nice citrus, orange, and floral smell, which is noticeable but not intense. The aroma has background hints of sweet malt and grain. There is a slight touch of vanilla and something that I can only describe as Japanese grape-flavored hard candy.

Taste. As the caption on the side of the bottle claims, this beer is well balanced. It has malty sweetness and is not too heavy on the hops and bitterness. The taste is pleasant and has a honey sweetness with a touch of hop spice. Again, I pick up on another type of sweetness in the taste that reminds me of white grape juice.

Mouthfeel. The mouthfeel is a little too watery for my preferences. The initial hop aftertaste on the tongue is pleasant and fades quickly.

Drinkability. Despite the watery nature of Rising Sun Pale Ale it is highly drinkable. It is smooth, easy to drink, and has a nice hop nose while not being huge on the hop bitterness.

Rating. My ratings below are on a five point scale with five being the best score.

• Appearance (20%): 3.0
• Smell (20%): 4.0
• Taste (40%): 3.5
• Mouthfeel (10%): 2.5
• Drinkability (10%): 4.0
• Overall:3.45

Caption on the Bottle

The following caption is found on the side of the bottle:

This hoppy, brisk and refreshing Pale Ale is indescribably complex, but holds tenaciously to Japan’s prime aesthetic value — supreme balance. Behold, the Zen Brewmaster’s Pale Ale, a perfect beer for drinking now, later, tomorrow, the next day, every day. “In balance there is harmony.” Kampai!

There is also information about the brewery listed on the side of the bottle:

Baird Beer is brewed at the foot of Mount Fuji by Japan’s pioneering craft brewery. Lovingly and authentically crafted, it is unfiltered, re-fermented in the bottle, and naturally carbonated. Please drink contemplatively, Beer Drinker-san.

Information

• Style: Pale Ale
• Brewery: Baird Brewing Company
• Alcohol by volume: 5%
• Beer Advocate rating: 3.84 (as of March 21, 2009)

Links and Other Reviews

• Numazu Traveler – Baird Beer’s Fishmarket Taproom
• Chuwy Reviews – Baird Beer Taproom, Nakameguro
• Metropolis.co.jp – Big Taste, Small Breweries
• Beer Advocate Reviews
• RateBeer.com Reviews