Episode Notes

Episode 68: Tioga Sequoia’s Firefall Red California Red Ale

It’s the Two Minute Beer Review!

I’m Andrew Burkum and it’s that time again where we take on that massive craft brew aisle to find the hidden treasures waiting for us there.

This week we’re taking a look at Firefall Red California Red Ale from Tioga Sequoia Brewing Company in Fresno, California. Will this one make us fall all over ourselves to get more? Let’s find out!

Here’s what Tioga Sequoia has to say about Firefall Red: “or a few weeks in February in the heart of Yosemite National Park, if conditions are just right, the setting sun sets the Horsetail Fall ablaze with reds and oranges; like a fire falling down the cliffs of El Capitan. Photographers and park visitors gather from all over just to grab a glimpse of this natural phenomenon.”

Firefall pours a nice ruby red as advertised. The aroma is surprisingly subtle. There’s not much there to really go by. I’ll admit that upon smelling the beer I was preparing myself for something that didn’t have a ton of flavor.

But what about the taste? All I can say is, “WHOA!” Contrary to my fears upon sniffing the beer, this is a hugely flavorful brew. There’s this really cool smokiness in the background and it’s overlaid with tons of rich flavor. There’s a beautiful nutty taste that hits right in the middle of the tongue and some coffee bitterness that spreads around the sides. There’s also some hoppy pine deep inside there and some lovely caramel to even everything out.

This is an incredibly solid red ale and one that I would definitely pick up again if I saw it on the store shelf. Do yourself a favor, find it and try it out. It continues a wonderful tradition of trusty and tasty beers that Tioga Sequoia has built for itself. Firefall Red is currently sitting at a 3.62 out of 5 on Untappd with 2603 ratings and an 83 out of 100 on Beer Advocate. It’s a 5.5% alcohol by volume drinker and I suggest you go add your own ratings to this one today.

That’s all for this week, but I hope you’ll join me next week as we take a look at Burned and Blackened Smoked Porter from Geartooth Aleworks in San Jose, CA. Will this one fit the bill or will it leave us burned out ? We’ll find out next week.

Look for links to this week’s beer and brewery in the show notes, and don’t forget to let us know what you’re drinking and what you’re thinking about the show. You can find us on Facebook or tweet us @2minutebeer, using the number two.

The Two Minute Beer Review is a part of the Phoenix Podcast Network and is brought to you by Zane-It, where you can find all the best costumes and makeup, Central Valley Youth Legal Services and Superfan Sandra Hay. If you’d like to support the show you can leave us a tip or sign up for a small monthly donation by clicking the link in the show notes or by supporting the Phoenix Creative Collective on Patreon. Our music is by Rialthos. You can find more at Rialthos.bandcamp.com.

That’s all for now but we’ll see you next week as we continue on our quest to taste all the beer!

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