I’m on the fence about these India Pale Lagers. This seems to me like a reach of a style, sort of like session IPAs. They're supposed to be IPAs brewed with lager yeast and cold aged, though I think depending on the alcohol content you get something that comes out like a pilsner or an Imperial pilsner made with American hops. That won’t stop me from drinking them, though, and the other day I did indeed drink one at Taco Mac: Red Hare Ill-Tempered Hare India Pale Lager.

Ill-Tempered Hare is another specialty beer from Marietta, Georgia’s Red Hare Brewery. Recently, they were featured on Atlanta’s Fox 5 news, partly for the amazing beers they brew but also for the fact that they can (and only can; Red Hare does not bottle) with products from a local canning company. Sadly, Ill-Tempered Hare is not one of the beers they can. You’ll have to try it on draft from a growler shop or beer bar.

Ill-Tempered Hare is a collaboration brew with Oakshire Brewery from, of all places, Oregon. I’ll allow Red Hare to explain:

On a recent trip to Oregon, while seeking shelter from a freak blizzard, head brewer Matt Van Wyk from Oakshire Brewery invited the Red Hare crew in to warm up with their sour barrels and hearty winter ales. As a nod to their Ill Tempered Gnome Winter Ale, we decided to collaborate on a summer version, an India Pale LAger. Whith this collaborative effort we were able to get enough Citra hops to make this beer a go. This India Pale Lager has the biscuity malt flavor profile of a Lager, with the intense bitter, tropical citrus tones of an IPA.

Red Hare Ill-Tempered Hare India Pale Lager has an alcohol content of 6.2% by volume and 70 IBUs. I paid $7 for a full mug pour at Taco Mac, and my local Stout’s Growlers here in Canton is currently selling it for about $7 for 32 ounces and $13 for 64.

My mug of Red Hare Ill-Tempered Hare India Pale Lager arrived a deep amber color with a medium sized head formation and an herbal hoppy nose. Taking a sip, I do get a good lager-like maltiness up front, it is a bit biscuity and slightly toasty even, with hints of caramel too. I really like the very nice maltiness here. The hops (Citras) add a bit of passion fruit aroma in the finish and the beer is minty and herbal grassy, too, then quite bitter at the last.

To me, this tastes like a pilsner-Vienna lager fusion with some fruity hops thrown in more than an IPA. But that’s OK, because it was still tasty enough and I’m glad that I tried it. Perhaps not the best beer I’ve had from Red Hare, but an enjoyable one all the same.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft



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