21st Amendment Toaster Pastry
21st Amendment Toaster Pastry is an American India Red Ale. 7.6% ABV. This beer was packaged in the 19.2 oz cans I’ve been seeing more and more of lately. A bit of an interesting concept here, from the can: Our first beer out of our new brewery is an homage to its former life as a toaster pastry factory. So I guessing I should go into this thinking of things like Pop Tarts and Toaster Strudels?
The beer pours with a brilliantly clear deep ruby color and a solid off white head as well. So they really nailed the aroma, I’ll be damned if this doesn’t smell quite a bit like sweet strawberry jam and a some bready crust. The taste tones down the gimmick and is actually a solid Red IPA. A bit earthy upfront followed by some sweet caramel malt, mildly bitter with some nice pine hops and a touch of sweet mango. I am getting some sweet strawberry like fruit in the finish and aftertaste.
The style seems to get very little respect in the “Beer Nerd World”, but I am not ashamed to admit I’m a fan of it. There ain’t nothing wrong with a hoppy red ale every now and then, and this is a fine example of how a really good one should taste!
