Review: Stoudts Revel Red

…and we’re back!

My favorite purveyor of booze, Corridor Wine & Spirits, often has left over seasonal stock at the front of the store, ready for impulsive people like me to impulse purchase cheap things of questionable quality. These 6 packs, often unlabeled or mismatched, are a steal at $3.99. I’ve tried 3 so far, and I’m batting .666.

It’s like a brown-paper mystery grab bag; you never know what will be inside. It could be a handful of wet peat moss and grubs, or it could be 6 gold watches that can be used to travel through time. You just never know.

Despite the possibility of grubby-dirt beer, I can’t resist.

The first I tried was an unlabeled Marzen. It’s a shame it had no label, as it was quite good. Not the best thing I’ve ever sloshed across my taste buds, but a genuinely solid beer at 67 cents a bottle.

The second I tried was an unlabeled porter. It sort of tasted like burnt band-aids. I managed to drink two before my tongue and tummy cried out for respite. I honestly have no idea what happened to the other four bottles. It’s possible the contractor who finished my basement stole them. If so, he got his punishment.

So, third time’s a charm, right? Fortunately, this beer had a label! It was even in the correct 6-pack caddy!

Soudts Revel Red is an odd, but enjoyable brew. You’d expect a red ale from the name on the bottle, but the flavor is surprisingly mild; mid-range hop notes and moderate malts make for a beer that remains solidly neutral. From looks I might categorize it as an amber, but again it sits just as closely to a pale ale, making it hard to pin down.

The label says “Hoppy Ale” which isn’t wildly inaccurate. It’s hoppy in it’s own regard, but tastes like someone forgot to add the hops to the boil if you compare it to the likes of Smuttynose IPA or Loose Cannon IPA. It’s certainly got some crispness up front, but it’s balanced and sort of passive-aggressive. It has more malt that a traditional pale ale which gives it a distinctive, heavier flavor than a lot of other “hoppy ales.”

But is it good?

Certainly. Quite good for a porch sitting, guitar strumming, burger flipping, Saturday afternoon. I wouldn’t pick this beer up if you wanted a full-bodied amber or enough hops to make your hair fall out, but if you’re looking some something just a little different and less extreme, Revel Red is good to go.

7.75 out of 10.