Red Thunder - Victory Brewing Company

confer

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Just happened to be in Wegmans on the day after release.
It come sin a 750 ml bottle. Pours brown with deep red hint when held to the light. Tan head fades quickly. The smell is mild coffee and chocolate.
The taste begins with the porter flavors, Mostly mildly bitter coffee and is followed by the red wine flavor. The wine taste fades quickly and the bitterness returns.
Very low carbonation and a creamy feel round off this beer. Overall an interesting tasty drink that hides the abv very well.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 00:15:40 | More by confer

tommyguz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2%

06-08-2013 19:42:31 | More by tommyguz

DeutschesBier

Maryland

4/5  rDev +2%

06-07-2013 16:07:44 | More by DeutschesBier

weonfire

Illinois

3.64/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

A - Dark mahogany, light head, opaque, tiny amount of lacing.

S - Red sour grape, cherry, carmel

T - Dry red wine, chocolate, carmel, cherry, oak

M - carbonation is good, low/med body, grape tastes lingers for a bit

O - This was a bit strange and also a bit of a let down. Initially it smells and tastes likes a sour - or heading that direction. But in an instant I felt fooled. What you may think is about to be sour cherry is actually dry red wine which turns to mild sweetness as the chocolate and carmel flavors come through. Mouth is avg at best being too watery but the 8.5 ABV is hidden quite well and is very easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2013 00:33:01 | More by weonfire

Lanstrum

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%

06-01-2013 04:05:54 | More by Lanstrum

Pencible

Virginia

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: This poured a nearly opaque dark mahogany with a little light tan head.
S: It smelled like roasted coffee and tannic oak, with some bitter dark chocolate and sour cranberries.
T: It tasted like sour oak and bitter dark chocolate and dry roasted coffee, with a little sweet molasses and fig. It had a clean, bitter, sweet and sour aftertaste.
M: It was watery with a little carbonation. Fitting body.
D: This was a really interesting and well done beer. I was skeptical of a red wine barrel porter, but somehow the scents and flavors ended up bring complimentary. The result was complex and bold and tasty. The body was decent but not great. It had a reasonably smooth finish, and well hidden alcohol, so it was pretty easy to drink. Not sure how it would age, but I really liked it fresh.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2013 21:19:50 | More by Pencible

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: On the lighter side for a porter, but still a deep brown with a hint of amber. Off colored head is ample at pour but retains well for a strong beer. Solid lacing.

S: Malt and wine grape smell. Nice twist.

T: Dark, sweet malt and wine barrel presence definitely. Nice mix of quality porter in the red wine barrell.

M: Relatively medium bodied for a barrel aged brew.

O: Really enjoyable and wish I had bought more.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2013 22:20:39 | More by Oakenator

brheuer

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +2%

05-24-2013 22:15:30 | More by brheuer

atone315

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%

05-20-2013 12:32:23 | More by atone315

Jspriest

Maryland

4/5  rDev +2%

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

whallgren

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%

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

ceberly

Florida

5/5  rDev +27.6%

05-11-2013 14:55:44 | More by ceberly

kayrex

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2%

05-04-2013 20:15:58 | More by kayrex

metter98

New York

4.08/5  rDev +4.1%
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 -5.4%
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

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
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%
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

New Jersey

3.8/5  rDev -3.1%
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

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

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

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +21.2%

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

jpatton0127

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

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

Invictus

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

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

bonkers

New Jersey

3.89/5  rDev -0.8%
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

Thomas_Picton

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

04-12-2013 01:34:32 | More by Thomas_Picton

AngusOg

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

04-10-2013 23:13:26 | More by AngusOg