(Pacific City, OR) – Pelican Pub and Brewery has received label approval for an old standby.
Pelican Riptide Red Ale came out exactly a decade ago and the brewery plans to celebrate by releasing it in 22 oz. bottles. To my knowledge, this is the first-ever bottling.
Label copy: “Inspired by the traditional red ales of Ireland, Riptide Red has a beautiful dark copper color and a medium bodied presence. Our spring seasonal has a malt aroma reminiscent of toffee, caramel, and cocoa with a subtle floral bouquet. The lush aroma gives way to a full, rounded malty flavor with caramel notes, and a smooth well-balanced finish. Riptide Red is our local tribute to Irish heritage.”
Here is the news write-up from Modern Brewery Age from back in 2001:
The Pelican Pub & Brewery of Pacific City, Oregon has developed a new spring seasonal beer, called Riptide Red Ale. According to Darron Welch, Pelican’s head brewer, the new seasonal “has a malt aroma reminiscent of light toffee and caramel, with a subtle floral bouquet from the Santiam hops. The aroma gives way to a full, rounded malty flavor with bread and biscuit notes, and a smooth, balanced finish.”
Welch reports that the brew is modeled after the red ales of Ireland, with an amber-red color and medium body. “This has been a fun project,” he said. “Riptide Red uses some malts that I’ve never brewed with before, so it was fun to taste the results of successful experimentation. I’m really happy with the way it turned out.”
The malt bill for the brew included Golden Promise malt, Light Carastan malt, Special Roast malt and chocolate malt. The Original Gravity was 13.2 degrees Plato, with alcohol content of 4.7% by volume. Welch said Riptide Red will remain on tap when Pelican’s traditional Spring seasonal, Nestucca Bay Bitter, comes on tap.