Red Rocker, the product of a family-run brewery in the Highlands, is a great all-rounder with a firm hoppy style that goes down easily.
Brewer: Cromarty Brewing Co. (cromartybrewing.co.uk)
Hops: Red Rye Hop
Abv: 5.0%
Cromarty Brewing Co’s Red Rocker is another example of a Scottish beer that takes inspiration from its hop-loaded US counterparts. Red Rocker, which describes itself as a “red rye hop extravaganza”, is a bullish beer with the muscular impact you would expect from its key ingredient. Craig Middleton, the firm’s chief brewer, runs Cromarty Brewing Co. alongside his mother, Jenni, and father, Chap. A graduate of Heriot-Watt University’s increasingly renowned brewing and distilling course, the youngest Middleton has thus far made five beers that show a certain versatility in his approach to brewing.
Of these, Red Rocker is one of the most well-balanced. Its brownish fizzy liquid goes down pretty easily, but that’s not to say it isn’t bold. Red Rocker is crammed with the aforementioned red rye hops from the US, which creates a big flavour, and the malts and hops jumbled into this beer really play well against each other. Hearty red meats and curries would soak this beer’s bitter notes and caramel accents just fine, but it’s also remarkably refreshing and palatable on its own.
