Barley's Red Molly is a full-on session beer, meant to be enjoyed with your mates when you're having more than one.

We know many of you have graduated to more challenging beer styles, such as IPAs and Imperial This and Imperial That. Nothing wrong with that--we're there too.

There's something to be said for a well constructed session beer, though.

Less hoppy and lower alcohol than some of the superstars you may be used to (such as our recent Bitter Dan's eXtreme IPA,) there's much to be said for a session beer that can be consumed over the course of an evening.

Besides, remember when a craft session beer was THE beer? You know, in those days when all you could get was mass produced yellow fizz in a can?

We celebrate that time by introducing a delightfully drinkable effort that we call Red Molly.

The name is a wink and nod to Richard Thompson's "Vincent Black Lightning 1952," from his 1991 Rumor and Sigh disc. In that song, he says "red hair and black leather is my favorite color scheme." So it is with us.

You can listen to the song here. Scroll down to find it, but you may want to listen first to "Keep Your Distance," one of many classics by the founder of Fairport Convention and one of the greatest guitarists of ours generation.

Barley's Red Molly

Style Guidelines: Vienna style lager

Rotation Schedule: none established

Food Pairings: beef brisket suasage; honey chipotle smoked wings; any sauce-based meats

Body: medium

Color: reddish brown to copper

Grain: pale, wheat, crystal and chocolate

Bittering Hops: Cascade and American Goldings

Finishing Hops: Cascade and American Goldings

Original Gravity: 1.054

IBUs (estimate): 28

Alcohol By Volume: 5.1%

First Tapped: June 24, 2009

Barley's Smokehouse & Brewpub Ale House No. 2xx 1130 Dublin Road Columbus OH 43215