Woodstock Inn Brewery - Red Rack Ale

The term “rack” can have wildly different meanings depending on the context, but in this case, as the label clearly shows us, it refers to moose antlers. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, this brew pours a crystal clear amber with a fluffy cream colored head. There’s a deep maltiness on the nose, offering notes of freshly baked bread overlaid with a hint of caramel sweetness and a fruity impression that’s released by a good swirl of the glass. That light fruity impression comes through a bit stronger on the palate as it opens with some fruit esters (natural byproducts of the yeast during fermentation) amidst moderately sweet toasted barley malt flavors and a very mild buttery hint. Finishes with some bready notes that well up in the fade and a mild to moderate lingering hop bitterness. We really enjoyed this smooth, medium-bodied brew. If you like a tasty, straightforward, malty session ale with enough hop bitterness to keep it crisp and balanced, Red Rack Ale hits the spot.

Nestled in the heart of New Hampshire’s impressive White Mountains lies the Woodstock Inn Station & Brewery, one of the state’s most popular country inns. In addition to two in-house restaurants serving a wide-ranging fare, including their famous “Best Breakfast in the Valley,” this 33-room inn also brews its own beer – a feature that places it at the top of our list of places to consider staying at when traveling to New Hampshire. The Woodstock Inn had been in the hands of the Clement family, who enjoyed it as their private home, for almost 100 years. When the last family heir moved away in the early 1960s, the inn stood vacant and unused for about two decades. Finally, the Rice family bought the property in the early 1980s and set about renovating the traditional New England style building. During Christmas of 1982, the inn was opened for guests, and it wasn’t long before success came – along with and a need for more space. To augment their original six guestrooms (each one furnished with a variety of period antiques), the family bought another historic property on the other side of the street and remodelled it in the Victorian style. Over the years, as the popularity of the Inn continued to grow, additional properties were acquired, and the Inn is now made up of multiple buildings, each offering its own unique charm and character. Another addition is the authentic train station building that dates back to the mid 1800s which has been converted to a bar and eatery (the Station). It was in 1995 that the Woodstock Inn Brewery and Brew Pub opened for business, which of course is our favorite aspect of the Inn’s expansion. The brewery offers thirteen craft brews (eight main beers and five seasonal offerings), in addition to their old fashioned, handcrafted, K&M Root Beer. The brewpub features a seven-barrel system, and all beers are brewed with pure NH deep-well water and the highest quality malts and freshest hops available. We think New Hampshire’s a great place to visit in any season, so for more info on the Woodstock Inn Station & Brewery, take a look at their website at www.WoodstockInnNH.com and check out their Brewer’s Weekend package in which you learn how to brew your own beer! Or visit the brewery’s website at www.WoodstockInnBrewery.com. Or just call ‘em up at 800-321-3985.