One of my favorite things about visiting the Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks (and the Sierras for that matter) is the chance to try out new beers from the Tioga-Sequoia Brewing Co.
These local brews are usually readily available at the general stores and restaurants inside these Californian National Parks.
On my last trip to Yosemite, I got the chance to try the brewery’s Firefall Red Ale.
But was it any good?
Review: Firefall Red Ale (California)
Editor’s Note: This article is part of my ongoing series on California
Click here for more on Yosemite National Park, and here for more on Things To Do In The State of California
About Firefall Red Ale
As mentioned above, this beer is brewed by the Tioga-Sequoia Brewing Co.
This ale is one of the brewery’s year-round brews and a portion of purchases goes to one of the following organizations: Yosemite Conservancy, Sequoia Parks Foundation, or the High Sierra Volunteer Tail Crew.
Firefall Red Ale Description
This ale poured a dark ruby-red color with a thin, light creme-colored head.
The hops and malts were balanced and noticeable, as was the slightly bitter bite of the aftertaste.
There were fleeting nutty notes with pine, citrus, caramel.
Here’s the official description from the Tioga-Sequoia Brewing Co.
The Bottom-Line Review: Firefall Red Ale (California)
As I’ve mentioned here many times, I’m a sucker for red ales.
This beer did have one peculiar trait – it demanded to be drank while “ice-cold”. Simply drinking this beer while “cool” or even just “cold” will noticeably diminish the experience of this beer and your enjoyment.
With that said, the bottom-line is this is a quality “straight-down-the-middle” red ale (with a slight hoppy tinge) that goes down great when “ice-cold”.
The Bottom-Line: 3.75/5
