Oliphant Rusket Red 4PK is a 5% ABV American red lager from Oliphant Brewing in Somerset, Wisconsin, sold in a four-pack. Named after mischievous local creatures from Wisconsin folklore called "Ruskets," this red lager has earned a loyal regional following and holds a solid 3.7 out of 5 rating on Untappd across more than 1,170 reviews.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5%  |  Origin: Somerset, St. Croix County, Wisconsin, USA  |  Style: American Red Lager  |  Brewery: Oliphant Brewing

Production & Heritage

Oliphant Brewing operates out of Somerset, a small town in St. Croix County near the Wisconsin-Minnesota border. Rusket Red is fermented with lager yeast and built on a backbone of specialty caramel and toasted malts, resulting in a beer that sits squarely between lighter American lagers and more robust amber ales. The brewery positions Rusket Red as a distinctly "Wisconsin-style" red lager — a hyper-local interpretation rather than a German or Czech variant — drawing its identity from the region's character and community.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Toasted bread and caramel malt arrive first, followed by a subtle biscuit-like sweetness and faint earthy hop presence. Some reviewers detect pear and green apple fruit tones beneath the fully toasted malt base.

Taste: The entry is gently sweet with honey-like caramel malt and hints of apple and pear fruit. Mid-palate, toasted barley and bread crust flavors develop, while the beer remains medium-bodied with moderate carbonation. Oliphant Brewing describes it as "a little dry with pleasant caramel and very little bitterness."

Finish: The finish is relatively dry and clean, with lingering toasted grain and a faint nutty quality. Bitterness stays restrained throughout, making this an approachable and sessionable red lager.

How to Drink Rusket Red

Rusket Red drinks best at a cool 45–50°F, poured into a standard pint glass or tulip to let the caramel malt aromatics open up. Its clean lager profile and moderate body also make it a capable ingredient in beer-forward mixed drinks.

• Michelada: The toasty malt and dry finish pair naturally with lime, hot sauce, and tomato juice without clashing.
• Beer Shandy: Blending with fresh lemonade highlights the subtle fruit notes of pear and apple beneath the malt.
• Boilermaker (with bourbon): The caramel sweetness and clean lager finish complement a shot of straight bourbon without overwhelming the palate.

Best For

• Introducing craft beer drinkers to the red lager style without overwhelming bitterness
• Backyard cookouts and grilling sessions where a sessionable, malt-forward beer fits the mood
• Supporting a Wisconsin-local brewery with a genuinely regional product
• Transitioning from mainstream American lagers into specialty craft styles

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Rusket Red taste like? Rusket Red delivers toasted caramel malt sweetness up front with subtle pear and apple fruit tones, finishing dry and clean with very little hop bitterness. It is medium-bodied and easy-drinking at 5% ABV.

How does Rusket Red compare to 3 Sheeps Arm Chair Quarterback? In direct consumer comparisons on BeerAdvocate, Rusket Red pours lighter with milder aromas leaning toward brown bread crust and toast, while Arm Chair Quarterback from 3 Sheeps Brewing in Sheboygan, WI, presents a richer amber character. Rusket Red is generally described as the drier, more restrained of the two.

Is Rusket Red good for beginners? Yes — its low bitterness, clean lager fermentation, and moderate 5% ABV make it one of the more approachable entry points into the American red lager category. Drinkers familiar with mainstream lagers will find the transition smooth.

Where is Rusket Red made? Rusket Red is brewed by Oliphant Brewing in Somerset, Wisconsin, a small town in St. Croix County near the Minnesota border. The brewery draws its identity from the local culture and geography of western Wisconsin.

What foods pair well with Rusket Red? Grilled burgers and bratwurst match the toasted malt backbone naturally. Smoked cheddar or Colby cheese echoes the caramel sweetness. BBQ pulled pork plays well against the dry finish. Roasted root vegetables complement the biscuit and bread crust notes. Soft pretzels with mustard are a classic pairing for malt-forward lagers.

What sizes does Rusket Red come in? Rusket Red is available in a four-pack format; individual can size may vary by release, so check the packaging for exact volume.

Is Rusket Red worth the price? Rusket Red positions as a craft beer at a modest ABV and accessible style, placing it in the everyday drinking tier rather than a premium or limited-release price bracket. For a locally brewed red lager with consistent community ratings, it represents fair value within the Wisconsin craft market.

Why Rusket Red?

What sets Rusket Red apart from the broader red lager landscape is its unabashedly local identity — Oliphant Brewing doesn't try to replicate a Vienna lager or a German Märzen, but instead builds something tied to Somerset and western Wisconsin. The use of specialty caramel and toasted malts with clean lager fermentation creates a beer that bridges familiar territory for mainstream lager drinkers while delivering genuine malt complexity. With over 1,170 Untappd ratings averaging 3.7 out of 5, Rusket Red has proven it resonates beyond novelty. For anyone exploring malt-driven lagers outside the macro category, this is a credible and honest regional option.