Ok, so there I was, cruising along on I-75, headed north and home to Canton (or was it south to Atlanta?)….I can’t recall. Anyway, what I do remember was there it was, big as life and really and truly a cool and neat thing: a Red Hare Brewing billboard. A microbrewery billboard is one of those things you rarely see, but when you do you’ll never forget it. In this case, the billboard reminded you that Red Hare was your local beer, and since the brewery is located on Delk Road in Marietta a stone’s throw from where the billboard is situated, they weren’t kidding. I used to live not far from Delk, which runs along and under I-75, so I know these things.

Anyway, what got me thinking about that sign is the glass of Red Hare Watership Brown that I’m sipping on. Watership Brown is one of Red Hare’s three flagship brews (along with Long Day Lager and Gangway IPA), and all three are canned. They do lots of other brews, too, but those are draught only for sale at bars and growler shops.

Recently, Red Hare revamped its packaging as well. The six-packs of cans now come in cardboard boxes rather than the old six-pack rings they used to employ. In addition, they also became the first craft brewer (if not the first brewer) in the world to use the evercan, an aluminum can made of at least 90% recycled aluminum. Hats off to you Red Hare for doing your part for the environment! Red Hare drinkers, be sure to do yours and recycle those cans after you empty them.

From the can label:

Feeling oppressed? Is your warren under dire distress? Don’t let the man get you down. As you search for your new grassy knoll, this American Brown Ale will help soothe your soul with its rich chocolaty malt notes and slight hop character. Perfect for the long journey ahead. Grab your doe and go!

Red Hare Watership Brown has an alcohol content of 7.2% by volume and 45 IBUs. I paid $7.29 for a six-pack at Target, a real bargain these days.

Red Hare Watership Brown pours to a medium brownish color with a thick foamy head and a wonderfully nutty fresh malty nose. Taking a sip, this one has all the wonderfully nutty, sweet chocolate chip cookiesh malt the nose promised balanced out by a surprisingly bitter minty-grassy hop bitterness in the finish. I just adore the big fresh dark cookie maltiness here, so nicely balanced by the  more than balancing hop bitterness that just intensifies as it warms.

An excellent American Brown Ale.

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