Red Thunder - Victory Brewing Company

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BA SCORE
88
good
-
165 Ratings

rAvg: 3.91
pDev: 12.79%
Reviews: 50
Hads: 115

Ratings Help

Brewed by:
Victory Brewing Company

Pennsylvania, United States

Style | ABV
Baltic Porter | 8.50% ABV

Availability: Winter. bottle (47), on-tap (3).

Notes:
No notes at this time.

View: Beers (117) | Reviews (198) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by NoLeafClover44:

NoLeafClover44

Delaware

3.98/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750mL bottle poured into an Allagash goblet.

A - Pours a very dark walnut color with about a finger of cappuccino head. When held up to the light it shows vibrant ruby highlights. Some, but not much lacing.

S - Very roasty with a noticeable nut presence. Oak tannins and cherry add an interesting dimension. Sweet cocoa rounds it out. Impressive.

T - The porter characters are prominent in the beginning. Roasted malts coupled with rich, chocolatey notes. The barrel has done a number on this beer and that becomes apparent on the back end. Pronounced dry grape and dark fruit flavor, bordering on tart. I think the fruit notes bring out the underlying chocolate in this beer a bit. The malts never quit and the finish is quite sweet. Tastes exactly like I would expect a baltic porter aged in red wine barrels to taste with obvious contributions form both sides.

M - I found Baltic Thunder to be a bit too thin, but this one works nicely. Carbonation is appropriately light and the body matches up with the flavors.

O - This was a release I was excited for since I first heard about it. Victory is one of my favorite brewers and, come on, a porter aged in wine barrel? This beer is a whole dfferent beast than Baltic Thunder. It has adopted many flavors of the barrel, adding fruit and oak to the already roasty porter. I don't know that I will be rushing to the store to stockpile this stuff, but it is interesting and certainly worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 03:18:02 | More by NoLeafClover44

More User Reviews:

Jspriest

Maryland

4/5 rDev +2.3%

05-18-2013 05:07:04 | More by Jspriest

whallgren

Pennsylvania

4.5/5 rDev +15.1%

05-12-2013 19:24:45 | More by whallgren

ceberly

Florida

5/5 rDev +27.9%

05-11-2013 14:55:44 | More by ceberly

kayrex

Pennsylvania

4/5 rDev +2.3%

05-04-2013 20:15:58 | More by kayrex

metter98

New York

4.08/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: The beer is quite hazy brownish red in color. It poured with a thin beige head that died down, leaving a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface and a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of oak tannins are present in the nose along with notes of red wine.
T: Like the smell, the taste has lots of flavors of oak tannins along with hints of red wine and vanilla.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. Bits of dryness are perceptible.
O: The red wine barrel aging completely changed the dynamics of this beer so it no longer tastes like a Baltic Porter, but like more like an oak aged ale with some red wine flavors. The beer is quite drinkable and hides its alcohol very well.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 01:47:27 | More by metter98

Chaney

District of Columbia

3.71/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Served in a DC Brau tulip.

A: Not black... or even dark for that matter. Kinda dark, dark brown actually, with a nice mocha head to boot.

S: Definitely smokey, bordering on ash tray territory. Definitely got the wine barrel in the middle.

T: Much more coffee-like than I was expecting. I usually don't associate that with a Baltic Porter at all... more like licorice. After a few more sips, this damn near becomes a Flanders Aud Bruin. Very odd, yet enjoyable in a curious sort of way.

M: Lots of lacing here, not thick and snot-like like I was expecting, and the carbonation is pretty good.

O: One would have to have a microscope to detect any Baltic Porter characteristics here, but that doesn't mean it's bad.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 23:16:49 | More by Chaney

da_beers

Vermont

4.03/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this in a trade (again, traded Heady Topper, living in VT has its definite Craft Beer related advantages) in a 750 ml Bomber. Best by 11/8/2015.

A - Pours a dark brown, thin tan head. When held up to light, can see the red from the oak red wine barrels used to age it. Decent lacing.

S - Chocalatey and nutty notes. Some spice notes in there that reminded me of the Holidays. Huge on the nose, get slight dryness of red wine in smell.

T - So interesting - starts as somewhat traditional Baltic Porter, but rapidly evolves into something quite unique. Finishes quite dry, like a Merlot.

M - Smooth and warming. Leaves dryness at end.

O - Overall good beer. Couldn't have multiples, not that drinkable. Leaves me very intrigued and wanting to try more beer/wine collabs.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 00:04:46 | More by da_beers

superspak

Michigan

4/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, best before 11/8/2015. Pours lightly hazy very dark reddish brown color with a 2 finger dense light khaki head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of big red wine, oak, tart dark fruits, clove, pepper, toast, roasted malt, leather, grass, floral, and earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of barrel notes with moderate malt balance. Very barrel forward in the aromas, smells a lot like a wild ale. Taste of chocolate, toast, red wine, oak, light roasted malt, raisin, clove, pepper, leather, grass, floral, and earthy spiciness. Moderate tannic fruitiness on the finish; with lingering notes of chocolate, toast, red wine, dark fruit, oak, clove, light roast, floral, grass, leather, and earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice flavor balance and complexity of moderate roasted flavors with wine barrel character; and no cloying flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a moderately slick and tannic mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a damn nice barrel aged Baltic porter. Very nice complexity of flavors with good balance of barrel and roasted flavors; and quite smooth to sip on. A very enjoyable offering; and one of the most unique and interesting beers I have ever tried.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 04:05:02 | More by superspak

rfgetz

Pennsylvania

3.8/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours a murky and dark brown with some red highlights, plume of dense tan head, gone quickly. Scent is big on the red wine character - vinous and oaky. Base beer is underlying with notes of brown sugar, chocolate, fruit, spice, alcohol. Taste again bold with the red wine notes, base beer hidden a bit underneath and that is tough to do with such a bold base. Felt a bit thinner than expected, moderate carbonation and dry. Solid beer, but heavy on the wine which clouds up a very good base beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 14:47:01 | More by rfgetz

eawolff99

Minnesota

4.25/5 rDev +8.7%

04-22-2013 00:48:46 | More by eawolff99

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

4.75/5 rDev +21.5%

04-17-2013 18:05:17 | More by Jason1337

jpatton0127

Pennsylvania

3.75/5 rDev -4.1%

04-16-2013 13:08:22 | More by jpatton0127

Invictus

Pennsylvania

4.25/5 rDev +8.7%

04-15-2013 22:07:09 | More by Invictus

bonkers

New Jersey

3.89/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bomber into a snifter, reddish brown pour, creamy white head. Tannic notes, oak notes, on the nose. The flavors of red wine and oak are overlaid with chocolate malts, slight acidic taste. The beer is creamy, full bodied, no discernable ABV. Decent beer, actually enjoy the base beer more.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 01:17:44 | More by bonkers