Laughing Skull Amber Ale - Red Brick Brewing Company

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

4.38/5  rDev +28.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Laughing Skull has a medium, fluffy, off-white head, nice lacing rings, and a hazy, amber appearance, with lots of white and gray chunks floating throughout. The aroma is of sweet, brown bread, and the taste is of the same, with an initially strong hop bitterness, which subsides. Sugar and a touch of citrus can be picked up as well. Mouthfeel is light and watery (lager-like, really), and Laughing Skull finishes crisp, clean, refreshing, dry, and highly drinkable. Overall, this is an excellent beer. Check it out, y’all!

RJT

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 15:29:21 | More by RonaldTheriot

Deus1138

Georgia

4.33/5  rDev +27.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I noticed this clever bottle as I walked through Total and Wine and more in Kennesaw. The sign outside of the Vortex?? I must investigate!

Poured into a standard pint glass. Color is light red, mostly orange. Very clear. Not a lot of carbonation, but I got a decent amount of frothy head. It dissolved after a few minutes, leaving a thing slab of head on the surface. Good lacing.

Smell is bready with indistinct hops.

Taste is very good. Bready malts with some mild sweetness, dry bitter finish. Very nice.

This is a really excellent brew. Easy to throw back, but also great for slowly enjoying. I'm glad this will be available year round. This will make an excellent beer for grilling out!

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2010 03:54:18 | More by Deus1138

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +25%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a beautiful clear amber with a thick, yellowish, light tan head that sticks around - very appealing for any beer, and superior to nearly all amber ales. Aroma is crisp and malty with fruity and hoppy underpinnings. Pleasing flavor is mainly malty and has hints of fruit - mainly apple - and hops, with just a touch of bitterness. Texture is quite fizzy and lively. This is one of the best amber ales I’ve ever had. I have downed this before, but didn’t realize how good it is - maybe because previously I’ve had it only from a bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

05-29-2011 01:55:08 | More by Cyberkedi

Lillie1128

Georgia

4.13/5  rDev +21.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tasted at the brewery on 7/15

A - Pours an amber color with medium thickness head, some lacing

S - Yeast, malts, citrus, and a sugary note

T - Caramel malts with masked hoppiness

M - smooth, medium bodied

D - Easy to drink!

A really delicious and sweet amber ale. One of my favorites from Red Brick.

Serving type: on-tap

07-21-2011 15:07:38 | More by Lillie1128

FreshmanPour77

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed on 8-24-10
Reviewed cold from a bottle to a glass

A - Poured a nice two fingers of foam, lots of carbonation present tan/copper colored, pretty good head retention with a nice layer of foam around the glass

S - Malts and caramel, slight hop aroma with orange peel

T/M - Medium to a lighter bodied brew, smooth taste at finish. Well blended malts and caramel with orange sweetness. Slight hop bitterness at finish

D - Very tasty brew, not overly powering. Nice clean amber ale, a must try if your into ambers. I would like to have this brew again, got this one from Shango42. Big thanks for this one. I recommend this brew

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2010 03:59:57 | More by FreshmanPour77

ktrillionaire

Florida

4.05/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks to G311 for leaving me one of these after his recent trip to Tampa, if it wasn't gifted to me, I'm not sure I'd ever have bought it. I have seen this beer so many times, but always assumed it too plebian for my tastes. I was wrong; it is quite nice, and just about spot-on for what I call easy-drinking. It pours a surprisingly turbid copper-amber hue, and is capped with some dense ecru head and a good deal of lace. Both the flavor and aroma are prevalently malty, although I would say this is not a malt-bomb by any stretch. It is, however, quite malty, tending towards biscuity, earthy and toffeeish notes. The hop contribution is good in terms of balancing the maltiness, but does not seem to lend any specifically discernible character. The feel is lighter-than-medium, and the brew has serious tooth... Overall, I am very happy with this beer, and will revisit often.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2011 16:31:38 | More by ktrillionaire

Mavajo

Georgia

4/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Son of a gun, Ding beat me to it.

This beer pours a slightly orange gold color with excellent clarity. Head is average - just a bit under two fingers thick and basically white. Decent retention and lacing.

Aroma and taste are both pretty mild and easy drinking. Sweet malts at the forefront with a tame bitterness like unsweetened tea (but no where near the intensity of, say, an English Brown). Mouthfeel is smooth with appropriate carbonation - it's there, but doesn't dominate or distract. Drinkability is superb. Very crisp and refreshing. This didn't taste boozy at all, but there's no ABV label on the beer. If it's not too high, then this is a perfect session beer. There's nothing mind blowing here - it's simply a very well made and enjoyable beer.

EDIT: Spoke with brewer. The ABV is 5.7

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2010 21:31:27 | More by Mavajo

KickbacksSteve

Florida

4/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 ounce bottle with cool label. On the label it looks like the skeleton from the freaky doll from the movie Saw. No glass available, drank straight from the bottle. Aroma includes caramel malts and mild sweetness with a slight hop presence. Taste seems like a well balanced amber, maybe leaning a touch towards the sweet side. Highly drinkable. I assume it weighs in around 4.5%. Refreshing, smooth and easy to drink. Nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2010 08:32:56 | More by KickbacksSteve

GPHarris

Alabama

4/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a - poured a one finger thick light tan head into a snifter that settled into a nice ring of lace with a little sheeting that billows nicely. the body is a bright amber color.
s - biscuity, sweet maltiness.
t - crisp hop bite with biscuit malts.
m - medium thickness.
d - highly drinkable and a solid amber.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2011 04:03:39 | More by GPHarris

bucklemyshoe

Georgia

4/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Rooster's Beak.

A: It is a beautiful amber-orange color with a frothy finger of snow-white head that holds and laces very well.

S: Toasty malts, caramel, some light citrus notes, and mild hoppiness.

T: It begins with citrusy hoppiness and becomes progressively more malty with caramel, earthiness, and light toasted bread notes late.

M: The body has average thickness and carbonation; no surprises here.

O: This is tasty and sessionable. I'm sorry I waited so long to try it.

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2011 03:20:49 | More by bucklemyshoe

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.93/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a pilsner glass.

A: A whole bunch (a full hand) of creamy head. Startlingly long retention. After minutes, it's as huge as ever. Cloudy-clear with tons of bubbles. Sticky lace.

S: Creamy and fruity. A bit biscuity dry?

T: Much better than I was expecting from the label and ratings. Yeasty-spicy fruit, clean and crisp with a touch of hops and a dry malt endtaste. Only the aftertaste has any drawback. It's light and somehow unpleasantly bitter. Fortunately this lasts only briefly and a mundane beeriness takes over. Maybe not huge on flavour, but what's here is good.

M: Sturdy, smooth, and quenching.

O: A pretty good amber ale. Not exceptional, but easy-drinking and pleasant. If I think it's boring, maybe that means it would appeal to lots of people. Not recommended, but I wouldn't every snub one.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2011 21:26:35 | More by AgentMunky

eggodoom

Tennessee

3.9/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured it into a pint glass. Poured a beautiful amber red color with wisps of carbonation and a small amount of head. Has a sweet caramel malt flavor that falls awy to a slight dry hop taste. Left some great lacing as I continued to sip. You can smell the caramel malts. This beer is a good amber ale and drinks nicely.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2011 03:13:03 | More by eggodoom

StarSAELS

Georgia

3.88/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I really can't say it better than Ding and Mavajo. I haven't had an ABC brew in a while, mainly because I've been trying many, many other things, so this is sort of a "welcome back". It's a nice, warm one. :-)

Picked up at GA World of Bev. in Fairburn and poured it into a Pauwel Kwak coachman. I have to agree with everything previously said except the soapiness. Didn't detect that. I really like the mild, lingering bitterness.

Cool label -- doggone it, the label is a plastic sticker! Easy-off-the-bottle and easy-onto-the-Beer-Fridge. :-D

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2010 05:21:22 | More by StarSAELS

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-Pours russet. Head is medium in stature. It dies off to a tan shadow. Body is murky. Hard to tell how murky in such lighting.

S-Pleasant balance. Hops are woven into the malts. Hops are a mixture of spicy and citrusy. Malts are rich and they complement the unique hoppiness.

T-The spicy and citrusy hops really take the cake. The maltiness reminds more of caramel glazed sweet buns. This is a pretty tasty brew. I really enjoyed the spiced citrus hops. They even turn a bit herbal in the finish. Yum.

M-Has a casky feel to it. Light bubbles. Creamy and moderately dry. Bitterness lingers on the tongue for quite a while.

O/D-Maybe the best of the weekend for me. Just a nice little Amber/Red that boasts its own individual flavor profile. Pretty good! One of the only beers I had on-tap that I would have happily had a second glass.

Serving type: on-tap

09-10-2012 02:09:53 | More by VelvetExtract

mooseisloose

Florida

3.78/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Love the name, cool label, BOTMC dropped it at my door, let's give it a whirl. Popping the top doesn't yield much smell, but what there is, is a zesty red licorice and malts. Pouring into my pint, I get a deep gold colour with a light pillowy head. Taste is balanced and bold. Sweetness mixed with a sharp bitterness right off the bat. The taste then transitions to a more chaulky bitterness combined with a honey-like sweetness that returns back to the tip of the tongue. The finish is bitter and parched. The hops are very zesty in this brew. This is biting beer for an amber ale, perhaps that is why the skull is laughing. Not for the beginner or faint of heart but for a conessier a fine brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2010 16:58:57 | More by mooseisloose

jeranbrews

New York

3.78/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - low loose eggshell head. Perfect amber color.

S - nutty. With a few stone fruits. One can't help but wonder if a few Georgia peanuts got in the mix. Some meaty German hops.

T - zesty fruits. Some spices. Cumin or parsley something like that. Citrus tang and malt sweetness. Not overly hoppy for an amber. I like it.

M - sparkling and evervescant. Just right. I want to try it again in summer.

D - overall a surprisingly refreshing beer. Stands out compared to so many of the hop only NW Anvers.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2011 08:47:52 | More by jeranbrews

nickfl

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours with one finger of white foam, resting on top of a clear, copper colored body. Vigorous carbonation gives the beer excellent head retention.

S - A bready aroma of caramel malt with some musty hops.

T - Caramel malt and light toast up front. Some moderate hop bitterness in the middle with a little bit of herbal, musty hop flavor. Finishes with a blend of herbal hops and dry, toasted malt.

M - Medium body, high carbonation, and a dry finish.

D - A drinkable, dry amber ale with an emphasis on the hops. The dryness helps to make this beer drinkable, though a bit more residual sweetness might make it more enjoyable. The hops are accentuated by the dryness as well as by the high level of carbonation. A pretty nice beer overall, nothing exciting but a pretty reasonable American session brew.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2010 04:38:37 | More by nickfl

chinchill

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the brewery.

Crystal clear orange, amber, with a small near white head.

Nice medium toasted malt aroma.
Some citrus hops appear upon tasting.
Medium body with god carbonation.

A tasty beer that could serve as a god introduction to craft brews.

Serving type: on-tap

10-21-2011 23:08:29 | More by chinchill

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.68/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Another new one for me. I had seen this one floating around on the shelves locally for a while now and decided it was about time to give it a try. Decent pour here, again nothing spectacular but it worked for the style and offered up some nice looking lacing when it was all said and done. Medium amber with a mostly clear body, there was a big puff of white that reached up as high as three fingers before settling back down to a more modest looking level. Aroma is light hops, grassy, herbal notes mixed in with a nice and clean buttery sweet note that peeks through toward the end of the session. Clean flavor, light with the carbonation prickling at the tongue. First flavor is a wave of light citrus hops that takes over the profile and offers a nice dry and bitter touch. As this starts to fade mid palate a malty sweetness kicks in with notes of light cereal grains and a hint of grassy notes. Smooth, even finish leaves you quickly looking for another sip.

Overall a very solid little ale. I was not expecting terribly much but I have to admit it was more then decent. I might pick up a sixer for the in laws if it was on sale.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2010 01:18:28 | More by mikesgroove

CampusCrew

Florida

3.68/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: amber-hued body with a thinnish, near white head. decent lacing.

Smell: toasty amber malts, sublte fruit, and some spicy, herbaceous hop notes.

Taste: sweetish flavor of amber malts with a background sublte brown sugar. Earthy and light hop character but with only a subdued bitterness. finshes pretty dry..

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body.

Drinkability: decent beer, of course I would have loved some more hop presence, but it;s a good beer

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2010 14:02:22 | More by CampusCrew

olimpia84

Florida

3.68/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured the 12oz bottle into a Pint glass.

A: rich dark amber color with a small head that went away pretty quickly. Some lacing present.

S: a balanced sweet malty aroma with tones of sugar and fruits. Hoppy presence is felt as well.

T: malts with sweet tones that end with a bitter hoppy presence.

M: very drinkable ale, a bit on the watery side but good still. Light to medium body, light to medium carbonation.

O: a solid choice for its style, this will probably suit better for those looking for lighter and more drinkable options.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2011 19:23:52 | More by olimpia84

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.65/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle courtesy of fthomasl, thanks Frank! Pours a hazed copper color with a modest, fine-bubbled tan head.

Toffee and caramel malts with a bread-dough yeast aroma. Low on fruit and hops, I am enjoying the smell of this one.

Sweet caramel and flashes some burning toast and biscuit bottoms. Pretty fair amount of bitterness on the finish. Nutty as it warms. Mouthfeel has a nice creamy/sharp interplay. Id say this is an above average amber with some complexity to it...would take this over any of my local ambers, that is fo sho.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2011 16:23:19 | More by twiggamortis420

ptwilson

South Carolina

3.65/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Solid Red Ale, simple, but pleasing beer-flavored beer for any microbrew enthusiast.

Very nice clarity and medium mohogany color.

Smell pretty predictable and typical for a moderately hoppy beer.

Taste is also simple and predictable, but pleasing.

I would be happy with this beer if I brewed it. It would please a wide range of beer lovers offending no one but delighting few. Solid, but nothing remarkable for the variety.

Serving type: on-tap

04-10-2013 23:09:11 | More by ptwilson

brownbeer

Missouri

3.63/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours bottle conditioned amber with a thin head. The aroma is of biscuity and nutty malts, and a citrusy hop balance. The taste is citrusy with tangerine and grapefruit, both in subtle balance with the bready, biscuity malts. Well rounded, though doesn't burst with vibrant flavors or aromas. There are more viable examples, but in a pinch, this would work.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2010 00:27:03 | More by brownbeer

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.63/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Radiant kumquat orange with honey colored edges. One smooth pour produced nearly two fingers of yellowed ivory foam that looks both creamy and reasonably sticky. Nice lace too.

The nose has a fair amount of toasted-earthy malt, which is a valid variation on the style. This amber ale also smells pretty hoppy, although the hops themselves aren't especially distinctive. Bravo and Cascade if you're keeping score. The former is a super high alpha variety that is supposed to be similar to Columbus.

Laughing Skull is hoppier than most, which is almost always a good thing. This bottle is going on four months of age and it still has a nice buzzsaw effect on the tongue and a pleasantly tight and focused finish.

The malts are in the amber range, with accenting contributions from both caramel and toasted bread. A small percentage of chocolate malt isn't appreciated. Top notes are slightly citrus peel-like, though the effect is more English hop fruity-herbal-earthy than anything else. Odd that. This isn't great beer by any means, but it works.

The mouthfeel seemed very good right out of the chute. With time, however, that initial medium-full creaminess fades and the stinging quality of the carbonation is beginning to annoy.

Laughing Skull Amber Ale is a good all-rounder that is flavorful enough (and hoppy enough) to stand out from the crowd. A memorable name and a cool label don't hurt either. Thanks to Mavajo for the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2010 12:21:43 | More by BuckeyeNation