Fire Island Beer Co.
Ocean Beach, NY
Available: NY
Fire Island Beer Co. started as a homebrew on Fire Island, NY in 1999 by two brothers and their cousin. Red Wagon IPA is dedicated to the grounded residents of Fire Island who only need what they can fit on the back of a red wagon.
ABV: 7
ABW: n/a
Color: 10
Bitterness: 45
Original gravity: 1066
The beer has the pale bronze color of a true IPA, with a wonderfully spicy and peppery hop aroma balanced by resins, cracker wheat malt and tangy fruit. Bitter and spicy hops kick in powerfully in the mouth with gooseberry fruit and honeyed malt. Some malty sweetness comes through in the finish balancing the shatteringly bitter hops and sharp fruit. Pass the mature Cheddar, please.
This IPA has an unusual hazy copper color and stands a thin tan head. Piney American hops dominate the nose along with caramel and butter. The hop attack is broad and brisk, balancing out the slight residual sweetness of the malts. It’s the hops that linger. It’s not at all pale and relatively mild, striking me more as an “amber ale” than an IPA, but no need to quibble. It will be a fair match for a good burger and it’s big enough to handle all the toppings.
Roger Protz is the author of Complete Guide to World Beer and 300 Beers to Try Before You Die. He is a respected beer authority and editor of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.
Internationally recognized brewer and expert on traditional beer, Garrett Oliver is the brewmaster of the Brooklyn Brewery and the author of The Brewmaster's Table.
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