Camerons Strongarm Ruby Red Ale

It's weird to have a beer named "strongarm" when it only clocks in at around 4%ABV or so. That's not "strong", even by UK standards!

A Shelton Bros import. Didn't I read somewhere that they vowed that they would not distribute a beer that did not have a "Best By" or "Born On" date? Or am thinking of something else? I only ask since it seems odd to me that the very same back-label that feature's the Shelton Bros moniker has a spot for a "Best Before" date -- but it's not filled in with this particular example.

Either way, this was lively enough to assume that it was fresh enough to matter. Very much "Ruby Red" in appearance, that much is true to the label.

Thankfully, "Ruby Red" does not equal "too much cloying-ass Crystal Malt". This beer is not sweet at all, thanks to the Beer Gods.

No, rather, this beer (said to be made with a mix of Fuggles, Goldings, Target, and Challenger hops) has quite a few interesting things going on, all told. Nice balance between the malt bill (which is no slouch here) with the hop bill -- all playing nice with the semi-estery yeasty profile in the nose dept.

My only bitch with this beer is the fact that it didn't really look very good. Yes, ruby red when held up to the light and all that is fine. But some head retention and foamy lacing would have gone a long way with this beer, it seems to me.

But really? This was better than I expected. Doesn't look like much. But overall? A worthy enough beer, from an outfit that has never disappointed me in the least.
//TB