Tempest Brewing Co Red Eye Flight

Tempest Brewing Co are based in Kelso in the Scottish Borders and have established themselves as one of Scotland’s most ambitious and technically accomplished craft breweries. Red Eye Flight is one of their more adventurous beers — a coffee-enhanced red ale that takes two complementary flavour profiles and combines them into something genuinely interesting. The name suggests an overnight journey, which feels right for a beer with this much depth.

Tasting Notes

Red Eye Flight pours a deep amber-red with a tan head and an aroma that’s immediately distinctive — roasted coffee, dark caramel, and a hint of chocolate, with the red ale malt character providing a rich base. On the palate the coffee is prominent but well-integrated: it adds a roasty bitterness that complements the caramel malt rather than fighting it. The finish is long, dry, and pleasantly coffee-bitter with some residual sweetness.

Verdict

Serve at cellar temperature to get the most from the coffee and malt character — cold suppresses the roast notes. Red Eye Flight is an impressive beer from a brewery that consistently pushes its own boundaries. It’s for people who enjoy both coffee stouts and red ales and want something that bridges the two. Brilliant with chocolate desserts, strong cheese, or just on its own as an evening drink. Tempest at their most creative.