Red Tail Ale
Review Date 11/23/2000
Try?
Re-buy?
What happened to my Red Tail ale? As you all are more than
likely painfully aware by now, I have been a drinker of craft beer for about
16 years now, and I tend to reminisce from time to time. No, it’s not
senility setting in here, rather it’s the fact that I just love to drink
beer and I tend to form fond memories around certain beer moments..
One beer I have been fond of for a long time is Mendocino Brewing Company’s Red Tail Ale. Located in the aptly named town of Hopland, California, Mendocino was founded in 1983 on a mere pittance of $100,000. Red Tail Ale was there from the start, and has become the brewery’s flagship brand. Mendocino was a pioneer microbrewer, entering an area of the industry that was soon to explode with life and vigor. Indeed, Mendocino was the second brewpub in the nation, and one of the first bottling microbreweries.
Mendocino’s beers went on to great acclaim, and eventually were bottled in 12-ounce six-packs beginning in 1989. They became available outside of California, eventually being sold in Massachusetts where I found it and purchased some in the early nineties. The label describes this brew as “an American Classic”, and at the time I certainly would have agreed. Lightly fruity, crisp and with a remarkably dry finish, Red Tail was a welcome treat whenever I traveled to Massachusetts.
Along the way, something happened to this beer. Perhaps this is a result of the fact that Mendocino was bought out in 1997 by the large Indian brewing concern United Breweries of America. As a part of that acquisition, some Red Tail Ale production was moved to the Ten Springs Brewery in New York State. The bottle of Red Tail I’m drinking tonight does not indicate where it’s brewed.
Mendocino Red Tail Ale pours to an orange-amber color with a thick creamy
head and a slightly fruity nose. The palate is crisp and malty, full of
caramel malt, full bodied and finishing with an aggressive, minty hop buzz
in the finish. Not a bad beer but not a great one, but most of all, this is
not the Red Tail I remember so fondly. It’s not Red Tail ale to me,
and that’s why I can’t recommend it.
One beer I have been fond of for a long time is Mendocino Brewing Company’s Red Tail Ale. Located in the aptly named town of Hopland, California, Mendocino was founded in 1983 on a mere pittance of $100,000. Red Tail Ale was there from the start, and has become the brewery’s flagship brand. Mendocino was a pioneer microbrewer, entering an area of the industry that was soon to explode with life and vigor. Indeed, Mendocino was the second brewpub in the nation, and one of the first bottling microbreweries.
Mendocino’s beers went on to great acclaim, and eventually were bottled in 12-ounce six-packs beginning in 1989. They became available outside of California, eventually being sold in Massachusetts where I found it and purchased some in the early nineties. The label describes this brew as “an American Classic”, and at the time I certainly would have agreed. Lightly fruity, crisp and with a remarkably dry finish, Red Tail was a welcome treat whenever I traveled to Massachusetts.
Along the way, something happened to this beer. Perhaps this is a result of the fact that Mendocino was bought out in 1997 by the large Indian brewing concern United Breweries of America. As a part of that acquisition, some Red Tail Ale production was moved to the Ten Springs Brewery in New York State. The bottle of Red Tail I’m drinking tonight does not indicate where it’s brewed.
Mendocino Red Tail Ale pours to an orange-amber color with a thick creamy
head and a slightly fruity nose. The palate is crisp and malty, full of
caramel malt, full bodied and finishing with an aggressive, minty hop buzz
in the finish. Not a bad beer but not a great one, but most of all, this is
not the Red Tail I remember so fondly. It’s not Red Tail ale to me,
and that’s why I can’t recommend it.
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
