May 10, 2009: Red Rocket Ale

Of all the fifty states in America, the history of California is perhaps one of the most interesting. In the early 1800's, California was the last wild frontier in America. It was a harsh land full of unforgiving wilderness, hostile native and Mexican forces and extremes in weather. In the gritty days when the first settlers braved the perils of California in search Gold, it was a savage land not meant for the faint of heart. Many people are familiar with the state flag of California that proudly sports the image of a grizzly bear, but most people aren't familiar with the story behind the flag. In the 1830's, early American settlers were becoming increasingly frustrated by the policies put forth by general Antonio Lopez De Santa Anna in California which was then still a territory of Mexico. At the urging of famed army major John Fremont, thirty three settlers raised the bear flag in Sonoma and declared themselves a republic, independent of both the Mexican and United States government rule. Shortly thereafter, Fremont returned with American soldiers and claimed the republic to be property of the United States government, before crushing a contingent of Mexican soldiers who had come to reclaim Fort Sutter at the battle of Olompoli. (Ok, maybe crushed isn't the right word considering that only two Mexicans were killed and a handful more were injured, but I prefer my version of history).

Tonight's beer is called Red Rocket Ale, which is brewed by the Bear Republic Brewery. Like the revolt that it was named for, Bear Republic is a craft brewery that plays by their own rules and is known for taking some risks with their brews in order to create a bold and unique beer. The name Red Rocket Ale alone lets the drinker know that this is not your typical red ale. I didn't expect Red Rocket Ale to be surprisingly rich and robust, but this beer was pleasantly surprising for me. I hadn't heard much about Red Rocket Ale before I tried it earlier this evening, but the Bear Republic Brewery has gained a new fan thanks to the strength of this beer. Red Rocket Ale isn't what I would call a textbook red ale, but the combination of grains and malts that are used to brew this beer give it it's own distinctive flavor. I promise, you won't be disappointed by this one.

Cheers!
Ian

http://www.bearrepublic.com

P.S. You've gotta love Bear Republic's slogan "Make beer, not bombs". Classic.