It was the brewery’s first release party for one of its beers.

BY ANNA DURRETT / REPORTER

Straight to Ale released its new beer, Rocket City Red, a traditional Irish Red Ale, at a special release party at the brewery on March 17. It was the brewery’s first release party for one of its beers.

“We’re trying to show the community what we’re doing in here,” said Dan Perry, one of the owners of the brewery. “As we release new beers, we hope to keep doing this in the future.”

Unobtainium is set to be the next beer released by Straight to Ale, which is a barrel-aged old ale that is only brewed once a year. Perry said it is one of the most popular selections.

Rocket City Red is somewhere around the 30th beer the brewery has released since opening in 2008. Straight to Ale produces four year-round beers, four seasonal beers, three once a year beers and many small batches of experimental beers.

“The beauty of craft beer is you do different things and make it taste different ways. Experimentation is part of the fun of it,” said Perry. “It’s all about brewing different styles and different taste profiles.”

While this is the brewery’s first release party, patrons can have beers at its taproom, which is open Wednesday through Saturday from 3 to 8 p.m. The brewery is set to start canning beer around May. Perry said the plan is to can 150 barrels a month. Currently 100 barrels a month are distributed. Monkeynaut India Pale Ale, its most popular beer, will be canned first, with more to follow if sales are strong.

Quitman Turner, a customer and friend of Perry, was at the Rocket City Red release party, and he also visits the taproom regularly.

“Consistently very delicious” is how Turner describes the beers. “You expect a certain quality, and they consistently meet that quality,” he said. His favorite beers are Lily Flagg Milk Stout and Monkeynaut IPA.

Straight to Ale can be found on tap in Madison at The Stem and Stein, Knuckleheads and Big A’s. Many Huntsville locations and a few sprinkled across northern Alabama carry the beer, which are listed online at Straighttoale.com.