Mendocino Brewing Red Tail Ale

By Derrick Peterman

When Mendocino Brewingโ€™s Red Tail Ale hit the shelves over 30 years ago, it was a radically different beer during a time when light industrial lagers dominated the beer market.

While a lot has changed in Californiaโ€™s beer landscape since then, this brew remains one of the classics.

Amber ales arenโ€™t always the most exciting beers in these days of รผber-hoppy IPAs and everything-but-the kitchen-sink brews youโ€™ll find these days, but beers like Red Tail Ale are underrated.

Itโ€™s drinkable, yet hardly boring. Itโ€™s complex, with its caramel character accented with deeply toasted malt note and an earthy finish. A radical brew when it debuted long ago, and pretty damn good today.