Track1 - Roanoke Railhouse Brewery

Bierman9

New Hampshire

2.95/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Sampled today (29DEC12) from a 22oz bottle gifted to me for my BDay last month by Artied2...

Pours a rich, clear amber color, with steady carbo... Head is almost nil, just some fine gatherings of bubbles near the rim. Doesn't leave much lacing to speak of at all. Aroma is a bit toasty with some caramel, perhaps even nutty. Feel on the tongue is quite light and airy, even with a medium body.

Has some light sweetnes, with malty caramel and, again, a hint of nuttiness. Didn't find any bitterness or chocolate, whereas the Railhouse web notes this as a "clean lager with chocolate bitter notes...". There is some floral hopping, along with some fruity action bordering on tartness, which I find odd for a lager, especially a supposed Munich Dunkel. Not what I was expecting.... Prosit!!

2.95/5 rDev -13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

1553

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 20:59:58 | More by Bierman9

hokieguy95

Virginia

2.75/5  rDev -15.1%

04-01-2013 16:49:49 | More by hokieguy95

orcsinspace

Virginia

1.63/5  rDev -49.7%
look: 2 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.75

Roanoke Railhouse is a local craft beer brewery that is walking distance from my house that is quickly starting to symbolize everything I find wrong with the entire craft beer movement: it is not the quality or taste of the beer, but the fact that it is a small business that now makes a beer "good."

Track 1 is what better beers shit out. It basically tastes like someone got a Michelob warm, then gave it a 100% mark up and made it trendy in southwest Virginia. I used to say that Switch Monkey was bad from this brewery, but Track 1 has dethroned it.

As far as all of the qualities go, it might as well be an adjunct lager. I do not mind adjunct lager, but the draw to adjuncts is that they are an economical alternative to expensive beer. What Track 1 is, is a clone of an macrobrew that is one of, if not the most expensive beer per fluid ounce in my market. There are literally hundreds of beers that are better that I can get on any given day, but Track 1 is "craft" so it gets a pass from beer newbies caught up in the latest trend. This beer is terrible.

To describe the taste, just think about every Budweiser, Michelob, and Coors you have ever had and make it less interesting. All of those beers are drinkable in my book, but Track 1 has come in at 6 dollars a pint at a bar down the street. It is almost 4 bucks for a 22 at the grocery store. It is beyond mediocre at best, and I prefer Budweiser to it.

Serving type: on-tap

03-11-2013 19:26:23 | More by orcsinspace

Axnjxn

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev +0.3%

01-10-2013 02:10:49 | More by Axnjxn

RDUNE

2.5/5  rDev -22.8%

01-04-2013 16:31:49 | More by RDUNE

mrterdferguson

2.75/5  rDev -15.1%

12-17-2012 03:03:33 | More by mrterdferguson

jaswilson2

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev +8%

10-02-2012 23:53:13 | More by jaswilson2

lupercmda

North Carolina

1.5/5  rDev -53.7%

09-18-2012 21:48:08 | More by lupercmda

Shaw

Florida

3.98/5  rDev +22.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A gift from my niece Jane. Thanks!

A lovely deep red/amber with a mice tan head.

Bready aroma with hints of caramel and hops.

Good flavor is rich with malt notes and a hint of hops.

Body is a little light, but nothing is wrong.

Overall a fine lager.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 04:08:05 | More by Shaw

tanner1980

3.25/5  rDev +0.3%

08-31-2012 01:22:46 | More by tanner1980

OldManVA

Virginia

1.4/5  rDev -56.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

Wow! Been a long time since I poured one down the kitchen sink.

Poured into a normal beer tumbler. Decent head. Color was fine and predictable I suppose. I didn't detect anything amiss with the smell really. However, the first taste was a total surprise. SOUR! I'm not talking lemon sour. I'm talking really bad beer sour; like something's wrong with this beer sour.

I discussed this find with a co-worker thinking maybe it was a bad batch or something. He said he tried a Railhouse brew and didn't think much of it either.

I called the company and left a message and also sent an email. Putting myself in their place, I would like to know if there's a potential problem with one of my brews. It's been several days and I have not heard back. I suppose this is what they think a lager is supposed to taste like. And for all I know 100 years ago it is what lager tasted like.

Don't waste your $$$ on this one.

The worse part was that I found it in the grocery store along with some other local favorites of mine. I hate to think that a potential craft beer convert would try this beer and think this is what craft beer is all about. It would definitely be a turn-off.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 16:16:22 | More by OldManVA

cyclonece09

Virginia

3.28/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bomber into a tall pint glass. Pours a nice red color with a little white head, but dissipates very quickly. Smells of darkly roasted caramelized malt, not much else. Has a very bland taste, a little dark malt, but watery. Light bodied beer has a nice finish, but is a little fizzy. Overall a pretty average beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 22:42:43 | More by cyclonece09

Brewfocker

3/5  rDev -7.4%

06-18-2012 03:11:28 | More by Brewfocker

HoppyDave01

Virginia

2.28/5  rDev -29.6%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Decent appearance - a little paler than I would have expected but ok looking in the glass. Decent head.

The smell was bad - skunky bad - serious problem with this one.

Taste was right there with the smell but since the smell was so bad I was prepared.

Bottom line on this one was - UNDRINKABLE.

Bad news here folks.

Serving type: on-tap

04-24-2012 19:41:29 | More by HoppyDave01

ygtbsm94

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev +0.3%

04-23-2012 20:59:56 | More by ygtbsm94

lccrunchy

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +15.7%

04-16-2012 21:52:59 | More by lccrunchy

Wmbolling

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev +15.7%

04-11-2012 01:32:47 | More by Wmbolling

mdfb79

New York

3.25/5  rDev +0.3%

03-23-2012 18:41:51 | More by mdfb79

Tumble

Florida

4/5  rDev +23.5%

03-21-2012 20:30:32 | More by Tumble

engagechad

Virginia

3.33/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Purchased as a bomber at kroger.
Tulip.

Pours a very nice ruby amber with a great head.

Smells really malty, no hops

Tastes good, bout how it smells

Mouthfeel is good, smooth and easy

Overall, solid brew not something id buy again really but its a solid brew

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 01:50:06 | More by engagechad

chilly460

Virginia

3.83/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Really nice looking reddish brown, towering three finger off white head. Nice sheet of lacing to the bottom of the glass.

S: Almost a nutty aroma, maybe almonds. Sweet malts come through, vanilla and caramel.

T: Rich caramel and vanilla carry through to the taste, some toasty bread. Finishes with earthy, almost metallic hops.

M: Nice oily, mid bodied beer.

O: Nice simple beer, very cleanly executed and balanced.

Serving type: on-tap

01-22-2012 15:10:36 | More by chilly460

nmann08

Maryland

2.5/5  rDev -22.8%

01-08-2012 22:40:09 | More by nmann08

TechTriumph

Virginia

3.6/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

No freshness date; Poured in a Roanoke Railhouse pint glass.

A - Less than one inch of off-white creamy head that recedes pretty fast; Dark copper/amber appearance that's very clear; No real lacing to be had

S - Very crisp smell here; Characteristics of sweet caramel, toasty and nutty aromas, burnt toffee, and a bit of syrupy-like fruit as well

T - Crisp lager taste that's similar to the aroma; Sweet caramel, toasty, burnt toffee, smoky, and a good amount of nutty flavors present; The nutty flavor comes after the inital dose of carbonation and lasts through the finish, but not overwhelmingly so

M - Moderate carbonation; A touch below medium bodied; A bit thin in the mouthfeel; Crisp finish with a light balance of sweetness and bitterness

O - This is a tasty and solid brew from Roanoke Railhouse. I have had this numerous times now from both the bottle and on-tap, and have decided that getting it on-tap is slightly better with a more flavorful taste. This flagship beer is definitely sessionable and makes a great pairing with pub fare for sure. I'm sure I'll have this brew again, especially now that it's being distributed in Richmond.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 16:24:43 | More by TechTriumph

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +32.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours mahogany with a nice looking white head. Carbonation is average.

Smell is sweet, caramelly, and almost banana-y. I was confused for a bit on what I was feeling and smelling, but its definitely banana. It adds a nice layer or fruity complexity.

The taste has that banana quality that I really like. It accents the light body and caramely smoothness. Light body and easy drinking Munich Dunkel.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 01:36:31 | More by VncentLIFE

avalon07

South Carolina

2.4/5  rDev -25.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

A: Poured from a bottle to a pilsner glass. Had a brownish color and a clear consistency. There was a small amount of foamy head that quickly dissipated. Almost no lacing.

S: There was a very faint aroma of malt and mild hops, but little else.

T: Tasted of malt, a little hops, a weird, off-putting smoky quality, and an aggressively foul graininess. The taste was just too acrid and coarse to be enjoyed.

M: A decent amount of carbonation with an earthy finish. Medium-bodied.

O: Not a great example of the style. Far too many bad elements to be liked.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2011 14:17:58 | More by avalon07