Try?
Sometimes, doing
the right thing can be a painful decision. Other times, it’s far more
rewarding. The latter is the case when you pick up a bottle of Bison
Brewing’s Reunion '08 Organic Red Rye Ale. That’s because the proceeds from
the beer go to the Institute for Myeloma and Bone Cancer Research. And
everybody wins: you get a 22-ounce bottle of organically brewed, delicious
red ale for a measly $5, all the while helping out a worthy charity.
And that’s why Reunion '08 is also called “A Beer for Hope”. This isn’t the first time Reunion Ale has hit store shelves, although it appears in different incarnations each year. In 2007 it was an Imperial Brown Ale. Brewing legend Pete Slosberg (he put the Pete in Pete’s Wicked Ale) is one of the major names behind the project. Sadly, Virginia MacLean, the inspiration behind the project, passed away in 2007 from Myeloma. But her desire to fight her disease goes on, and you can help by buying a bottle of Reunion '08 or donating directly in Virginia’s memory by clicking the donate buttons to the right.
Reunion 2008 is hand crafted from all-organic ingredients at Chico, California’s Bison Brewery. The beer savvy may know this as the home of craft brewing legend Sierra Nevada, as well. This hearty red ale is made with barley malt, flaked rye, hops and is spiced with caraway seeds.
Reunion '08 Organic Red Rye Ale pours to a beautiful coppery red color with a light but creamy head formation and an inviting sweet caramel and spicy hop nose. The caramel in the nose is readily apparent in the palate, too, and it’s the first thing that hits me as I sip. The chewy, stewed malt flavor of the caramel malt is what gives a red ale it’s color and flavor, and it does the trick here, with extra quantities thrown in for good measure. That gives Reunion '08 a bit more body and a higher alcohol content, too, at 6.5% by volume.
The flaked rye adds a decided spiciness to the beer, and although I just get a hint of the caraway seeds, they are there and complete the allusion to a slice of fresh rye bread. A citric fruitiness pervades the beer as well, and a dry, peppery hop bitterness rounds Reunion '08 out nicely.
All in all, this is a tasty red ale with an extra kick and a bit of added spice. You could do worse with your $5 than pick up a bottle. Why not try some today? After all, doing the right thing isn’t hard at all to do when it tastes this good.
And that’s why Reunion '08 is also called “A Beer for Hope”. This isn’t the first time Reunion Ale has hit store shelves, although it appears in different incarnations each year. In 2007 it was an Imperial Brown Ale. Brewing legend Pete Slosberg (he put the Pete in Pete’s Wicked Ale) is one of the major names behind the project. Sadly, Virginia MacLean, the inspiration behind the project, passed away in 2007 from Myeloma. But her desire to fight her disease goes on, and you can help by buying a bottle of Reunion '08 or donating directly in Virginia’s memory by clicking the donate buttons to the right.
Reunion 2008 is hand crafted from all-organic ingredients at Chico, California’s Bison Brewery. The beer savvy may know this as the home of craft brewing legend Sierra Nevada, as well. This hearty red ale is made with barley malt, flaked rye, hops and is spiced with caraway seeds.
Reunion '08 Organic Red Rye Ale pours to a beautiful coppery red color with a light but creamy head formation and an inviting sweet caramel and spicy hop nose. The caramel in the nose is readily apparent in the palate, too, and it’s the first thing that hits me as I sip. The chewy, stewed malt flavor of the caramel malt is what gives a red ale it’s color and flavor, and it does the trick here, with extra quantities thrown in for good measure. That gives Reunion '08 a bit more body and a higher alcohol content, too, at 6.5% by volume.
The flaked rye adds a decided spiciness to the beer, and although I just get a hint of the caraway seeds, they are there and complete the allusion to a slice of fresh rye bread. A citric fruitiness pervades the beer as well, and a dry, peppery hop bitterness rounds Reunion '08 out nicely.
All in all, this is a tasty red ale with an extra kick and a bit of added spice. You could do worse with your $5 than pick up a bottle. Why not try some today? After all, doing the right thing isn’t hard at all to do when it tastes this good.
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
