I can remember it like it was yesterday. There I was in the summer of 2001, driving to Georgia from Rhode Island. It was a long trip, but we had broken it up over a few days. Half way through North Carolina, traveling on I-85, we spied a sign amidst the trees on the side of the road “Future Site of the Red Oak Brewery”. That intrigued me, but the site remained in “future” status for quite some time, and I began to wonder if the brewery would ever be built.

Still, went up it did, completed in 2007 with a German brewhouse. I drove by it a number of times on 85, but always in a hurry I never had a chance to stop in. That changed, though, in March of 2013. On my way to DC I was as usual pressed for time, but made it a point to stop for some bottled beer to go. Red Oak sells various beers in growlers and 12-packs, though only their staple Red Oak Amber Lager comes in the latter.

I did admire their commitment to freshness. The 12-packs are clearly marked “Must be refrigerated”, as are the bottles. The beer is not pasteurized. It is best drunk fresh. Indeed, the woman that sold me my 12-pack of Red Oak Amber seemed very concerned that I wasn’t going to be able to keep it in a cooler on my trip. Almost to the point, I think, that she was thinking of not selling it to me. I admired that motherly instinct she displayed for her beer, but assured her the weather over the next few days would keep the beer sufficiently cool until I could get it home and keep it cold.

Red Oak Amber Lager is called “a Munich Urtyp Lager” on the company website Amber Lager; I would peg it as a Vienna Lager in style. The beer is certainly German inspired, made with imported German malt and hops (Munich malt, Tettnang hops) and German lager yeast from Weihenstephan. Alcohol content is 5% by volume. I paid $20 for a 12-pack at the brewery, and that is very high indeed for this beer. Take off a buck or so for sales tax and you are still talking almost $19 a 12-pack.

Red Oak Amber Lager pours to a reddish amber color with a thick creamy head formation and a delightfully nutty, soft malty nose. Taking a sip, the beer is medium in body with a wonderfully fresh tasting, clean dry maltiness that’s toasty and nutty, perhaps more so of the latter. A dash of caramel adds malt depth as well. There’s a subtle stewed malt character and in the finish, a balancing gentle hoppiness.

This beer is a tasty Vienna lager, comparable to Mexican examples like Negra Modelo, but perhaps with a little more pizzazz in the firm clean maltiness and creamy texture. It should not be drunk too cold, as the flavors really come out more as it warms. It won’t bowl you over with flavor, but flavor is certainly there. I like it, and will certainly stop by the brewery for more the next time I drive by. One wonders, though, with such a big, beautiful German brewhouse off the highway why the beer does not have wider distribution.

Three and a half stars, though I am taking off a half star for the very high price.

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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