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Red Trolley Ale

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Toffee leads the aroma, caramel runs through the malt, and hints of raisins and currants add a dried-fruit edge. Born as the brewery's first holiday ale, Red Trolley is now available all year, and each batch still uses about half a ton of caramelized malts for its deep copper color. Pale 2-Row, Carapils and Caramel 60 and 80 meet Warrior and Willamette hops. Gold in Irish-style red ale at the World Beer Cup in 2010 and 2012 and at the Great American Beer Festival in 2013.

ABV
5.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber13
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Gold · 2010
World Beer Cup
Irish Red Ale
Gold · 2012
World Beer Cup
Irish-Style Red Ale
Gold · 2013
Great American Beer Festival
Irish-Style Red Ale
Silver · 2020
San Diego International Beer Competition
Irish-style Red Ale
★Gold — World Beer Cup (Irish Red Ale)
★Gold — World Beer Cup (Irish-Style Red Ale)
★Gold — Great American Beer Festival (Irish-Style Red Ale)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
carameldark fruitmalty
caramel
dark fruit
malty
toasty
Aroma
Toffee and caramel dominate the nose, underscored by sweet malt complexity from Pale 2-Row and Carapils.
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Red Trolley Ale

◎ Appearance

Deep copper hue with excellent clarity, achieved through roughly half a ton of caramelized malts per batch. A dense, cream-colored head forms with solid retention and fine lacing that clings to the glass as you drink. Moderate carbonation creates a lively, inviting visual presence.

deep coppercleardense headpersistent lacing

◌ Aroma

Toffee and caramel dominate the nose, underscored by sweet malt complexity from Pale 2-Row and Carapils. Dried fruit notes—raisins and currants—weave through the background, adding a subtle fruity edge without dominating. Warrior and Willamette hops contribute a restrained herbal and woody undertone.

toffee, carameldried fruitnoble hopssweet malts

◐ Taste

The palate opens with pronounced caramel and malt sweetness, balanced by moderate bitterness (28 IBU) that prevents cloying notes. A smooth, full-bodied texture carries toasty, slightly warm flavors from the caramel malts (Caramel 60 and 80). The finish transitions cleanly, with a crisp snap that refreshes and invites another sip.

caramel sweetnessmoderate bitternesssmooth bodytoasty finish

◑ Finish

The aftertaste is clean and medium in length, leaving behind residual caramel warmth and a subtle hoppy dryness. No harsh edges remain—the beer retreats gracefully, leaving the palate refreshed and ready for the next pour.

clean aftertastecaramel warmth
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
84
Appearance
85
Finish
78
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Red Trolley Ale

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About Irish Red

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Irish Red?

Irish Red is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Irish Red

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same caramel, dark fruit, malty character as Red Trolley Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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