Well, this is aggravating. There I was at Total Wine, proud papa of a brand new beer to take home and try. The beer, Red Hare National Common, came in a spiffy little black can (Red Hare doesn’t bottle) with a white and red logo emblazoned on the front. I got the beer home, drank it, and now I’m about to tell you about it.
Except-horror of horrors-it’s really not a new beer. When I checked my spreadsheet, it seems that I’ve had this one before. I just can’t remember where or when. Was it Taco Mac? It’s not on my Brewniversity list. Maybe they comped me that one. Had I tried it at home, I’m sure I would have reviewed it. But I haven’t, so now I will, which is, I expect, why you’re here in the first place.
From the can label:
National Common is our take on a turn-of-the-century-style “California Common.” We proudly continue the tradition of this uniquely American beer by using grains and hops reminiscent of those available to brewers at the time. National Common is a collaboration brewed to perfectly complement the H & F Burger, and both are crafted with honest, quality ingredients, paying homage to a simpler time.
What is an H & F Burger? I had to look that up. Basically, it’s a specialty burger with emphasis on simplicity. The restaurant (really more of a concession) is located in Atlanta’s Turner Field and the Ponce Market. You can read more about them here.
Red Hare National Common has an alcohol content of 5.5% with 34 IBUs. It’s the first beer in Red Hare’s Chef Series, and is available year round. If you don’t already know, California Common is often referred to as Steam Beer, with Anchor Steam being the (pardon the pun) most common example. A six-pack of Red Hare National Common will run you around $8.99 these days.
Red Hare National Common pours to a brilliant orange amber color with a thick if short lived head and a rich malty nose laced with soft fruit. Taking a sip, the beer has the chewy caramel I want up front followed by gentle apple pear fruit, a light toastiness, and a drying herbal grassy hop bitterness in the finish. What a wonderful beer, an excellent example of the style perhaps only surpassed in my experience by Anchor Steam.
I was very impressed with Red Hare National Common, not just because it’s so well done for the style and so flavorful, but also because it uses classic ingredients. I’ll confess I’m more of a football fan than a baseball enthusiast, but once of these days I may go to a game-just to try an H & F Burger and a glass of Red Hare National Common.
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