Beer of the Month at Taco Mac! That means free pint glass Thursdays (well not free, you have to buy one of those beers of the month to get one). For August 2014, the featured brewery is Lonerider from Raleigh, North Carolina. And the Lonerider beer I first ordered was Lonerider Red Spur Amber Ale. This is one of two amber ales offered as this month’s selections, Eve Amber Ale being the other.

Whereas, however, Eve Amber Ale is a moderately strong beer at 4.2% by volume (approaching session beer levels of 4%), Red Spur is a much bolder and bigger beer, almost twice as strong at 7.3% by volume. It’s also a seasonal beer, part of Lonerider’s “Outlawed” series.

Lonerider beers rode into Georgia in 2013, and mostly I’ve just seen their regular lineup, Peacemaker Pale Ale, Sweet Josie Brown and Shotgun Betty Hefeweizen. I have seen a few specialty bombers, but at $13 each I passed on those. The six-packs are a much better bargain, running a reasonable $8.99. It was nice of Taco Mac to rustle up Red Spur Amber at just $6 for a full mug draft.

Lonerider says of this beer:

Spur is the girl you take home to your parents. Pouring a beautiful red hue, this full bodied ale strikes a balance between lots of hop and caramel malts. Hopped with Centennial and Columbus, Red Spur is full of flavor and complexity.

And I say:

My mug of Lonerider Red Spur Amber Ale arrived a dark mahogany in color with a thick creamy tan head formation and a nose loaded with stewed malt aromas. Right from the get go, you know this is a big amber for sure, an imperial amber/red ale. Taking a sip the beer has full body, light caramel, those rich stewed malt flavors the nose promised, berry fruit, and chocolate. A big resiny hop aroma and long dry bitterness make this one a real winner, and those Centennial and Columbus hops are employed to great effect here.

A very delicious beer, with big malt flavors and lots of hops to balance. I enjoyed this one very much, and chances are you will too partner.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft

(G)=Growler



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