Red Brick Porter - Red Brick Brewing Company

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.95/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark chocolate brown with generous highlights of russet and burnt orange. Backlighting reveals a lack of opacity, which is a minor sin in a 7.7% 'robust' porter. The coffee-with-cream colored crown is mousse-like and does a pretty good job laying down lace. Since there's a huge amount of glass coverage in the end, I'll forgive the beer's lightness.

The aroma is solid as well. Each sniff delivers melted Hershey's kisses, vanilla beans and coffee, in order from most prominent to least. A lack of hoppiness isn't bothersome at all. I'm expecting good things when the glass is upended.

RBDCOP is good beer, even though it isn't as robust as the brewers think it is. There's a good amount of roasted maltiness and there's no shortage of accessory flavors, so that's all that really matters. The ABV is hidden pretty well too.

Flavors mirror aromas, for the most part. Bittersweet chocolate dominates and is followed by dark caramel, vanilla and a small splash of espresso. Fruity esters are minimal. There's a nice bitter char from the roasted malt and a moderate amount of bitterness that's probably hop-related. Sweet and bitter fight to a draw, with a lactose-like tang bringing up the rear.

Sorry, but the mouthfeel doesn't quite cut it. It's too light for the ABV. If you're going to put the word 'Robust' on the label, then you'd damn sure better add enough barley. The oats add some creamy smoothness and the carbonation is fine and dandy: low end and soft.

Along with Winter Brew (another relatively big porter), Double Chocolate Oatmeal Porter is the best beer that I've had yet from Atlanta Brewing Company. I'd love to see what these guys could do with a 10.0% American double stout.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2009 12:57:44 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.68/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

y dark, but obviously clear brown, almost black. Very large tan head graced the top, eventually faded down to just a slight ring around the outside of the glass. No glass lace and little carbonation,.Smell very sweet, lots of caramel and roasted coffee, a touch of chocolate perhaps. Very nice light feel. Good carbonation kept it feeling alive and allowed the flavors to really pop. Nice burnt caramel sugar and a touch of chocolate. Very nice dry piney hopped finish. Very drinkable

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 05:39:43 | More by mikesgroove

brentk56

North Carolina

3.68/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a fudge brown color capped by a reasonably solid light tan head; sticks well and leaves a few shards of lace

Smell: Roasted grain and chooolate aroma with hints of oatmeal and dark fruit

Taste: Milk chocolate and tart fruit, up front, followed by a coffee character that adds some tartness by mid-palate; after the swallow, the flavors meld together into a mocha finish with a charred grain aspect in the aftertaste

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: Oh, if only Red Brick didn't use the word "Double" in naming this beer it would score much higher; certainly a drinkable beer but I am not getting all of the elements I would have expected given the name

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2010 20:34:20 | More by brentk56

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.63/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I have high hopes when I read 'Double' and 'Chocolate' when describing dark beers. I expect a smooth creaminess from the oatmeal and I hope to taste the softer coffee flavors of a Porter. But do we get any of that....?

A froathy dark brown beer releases a lightly tanned head and leaving a lot of lacing behind. A short statured head shows great staying power with a soft creme swirling about. Moderate haze keeps the beer from clarity.

Mild chocolate malt works well with soft nutty notes, mild coffees, light toffees, and a genuine malt aroma. Though nice and favorable, the beer doesn't yet show the chocolate character that I want.

Again, a flavorful brown malt taste gives moderate notes of cocoa/chocolate, nutty, and mild coffee. But none of the 'double' or 'chocolate' flavors are exhibited in enough intensity to boast about it so much on the lable. Even the Porter character seems more similar to an American Brown Ale with only moderate chocolates, bolder nutty flavor, assertive hop flavor/bitterness, and timid coffees.

Though malty and creamy throughout, the oat character doesn't seem to add any more character than I would have expected from a standard properly malted barley-based beer. A typical mouthfeel for an English Brown or a small Porter.

This Double Chocolate Oatmeal Porter winds up becomming a tasty and flavorful beer, but is nowhere near the quality or intensity that is advertised- in this regard, it might be a bit of a letdown.

Thanks RomaniTeDomum

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2010 03:36:24 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

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

On tap at the Mellow Mushroom here in G-boro.Poured a deep garnet color with a large fluffy,slight off white head.Deep roast in the nose along with some molasses,and bitter chocolate,the roast is real big.Roast is the main component flavor wise as well,deep dark roast coffee,mixed with bitter chocolate,and molasses.If your into big roasty porters than this is for you,I liked it.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2010 20:04:50 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Deep mahogany brown body. Thin, creamy tan head. Head retention and lacing are limited.
S: Aromas of fudge and bittersweet chocolate.
T: Rich but not overly malty. There's an undercurrent of dark fruitiness beneath multiple layers of chocolate and cocoa; and a thin edge of dark malt acidity as well. Leafy and grassy hops appear mid-palate and linger into the dry finish. A delicate spritz of alcohol helps the solid bitterness to dry it. An edge of dark roastiness lingers.
M: Medium-full with a dextrinous edge, and creamy smooth with a moderate carbonation level.
D: Much more of a desert beer or night-cap sipper, I don't think of it in terms of "drinkability" as much as 'enjoyability'.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2009 13:21:27 | More by NeroFiddled

Mora2000

Texas

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

Thanks to ktrillionaire for sending this bottle to me.

The beer pours a dark brown color with a lot of red highlights. The head is off-white. The aroma is mainly roasted malts. I get a little chocolate but if I wasn't looking for it, I probably wouldn't notice it. The flavor is similar with light chocolate, oats and roasted malts. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. I really liked this beer but I expected it to have a lot more chocolate than it did.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2010 02:36:26 | More by Mora2000

MasterSki

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this as an extra with Wespatrick (I think) in a recent trade. Served in my FOBAB taster glass.

A - One finger of late-rising tan foam that dissipates slowly and leaves some attractive lacing. Dark brown color with some raisin highlights at the fringes. I'm kind of lukewarm to the color - wish it were a bit darker. There's some visible carbonation too.

S - Baker's chocolate, roast malt, some caramel - the nose is pretty light on this one, even when it warmed up I had to jam my nose in the glass to get much of anything.

T - Chocolate, roast malt, a hint of caramel - there's a bit more intensity than the smell but it's still very mild. Not much depth here, but fairly nice taste.

M - Fairly high carbonation, a little watery, some nice oatmeal smoothness - pretty standard for a porter with some positives and negatives.

D - You can't taste the 7.7% at all, although this might be the least intense tasting 7.7% brew I've ever tasted. The carbonation has a little too much burn for this to be a quick chugger too.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2009 01:34:21 | More by MasterSki

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to gford217 for this 12 oz bottle.

A: The porter is a dark, black cherry red that looks black from an arm's length. Opaque, like it really needed to be said. My pour was vigourous, generating two plus fingers of head that laced with equal vigour.

S: Chocolate malts, as you'd expect, are abundant, with roasted sweetness in the forefront (mild bitterness on the back).

T: The oatmeal rears is creamy head immediately, adding a near-lactic sweetness the dense proceedings. Underneath the oatmeal, chocolate malts are more bitter than sweet. As the porter warms, cocoa chocolate, significantly sweeter, begins to appear. A citrus hoppiness, not overpowering, follows in short order. The finish is nondescript, lacking the chocolate that dominates mid-sip.

M: The oatmeal is a nice distraction, smoothing out the bitter chocolate before cocoa kicks in. That cocoa sweetness, with the hops, is the best feature.

D: The porter doesn't feel like it's got 7.7% behind it. A good nightcap.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2010 01:23:09 | More by akorsak

Wasatch

Utah

3.85/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks goes out to MSchae1017 for this brew.

Pours a very nice deep brown color, nice carbonation, nice one-finger foamy tan head, which leaves some small islands and sticky lacing. The nose is malty, with some caramel/toffee and slight chocolate notes. The taste is malty, bitter, with some toffee/chocolate. Medium body. Drinkable, not a bad brew. This is my first from this brewery, thanks Matt.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2009 00:01:09 | More by Wasatch

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very dark brown, almost pitch black and completely opaque with only the faintest of mahogany edges when held to a light source and a .5 finger tan head that quickly fades into a thin ring that lasts, leaving sporadic splotches of lacing.

Roasty, smokey malt aroma with hints of bitter dark chocolate, oatmeal, toffee, hazelnut, subtle hops and toast.

Full-bodied chewy mouthfeel that's not watered down at all. Very roasted and bitter with some silky chocolate maltiness. Slightly sweet with a bitter dark chocolate finish. Very nice chocolate flavor with hints of oatmeal, roasted malt, slight burnt toast. Nice and toasty with some slight smokiness in the finish which is a nice compliment to the bitter dark chocolate. Very good.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2009 05:13:57 | More by corby112

glid02

Georgia

3.68/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Taco Mac Metropolis in Atlanta.

Pours one shade from black with a 1.5-finger tan head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of heavily roasted malt with moderate amounts of unsweetened chocolate. Also present are mild amounts of char and very mild amounts of roasted coffee.

Tastes similar to how it smells although less complex. As with the smell the overriding influence is from heavy roasted malt flavors that kick things off. Midway through the sip unsweetened chocolate flavors work their way into things. Finally, hints of char make an appearance before fading out into a solidly bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with heavy carbonation.

Drinkability is OK. I finished my glass without a problem however I'm not sure about another.

Overall this beer was fine enough for the first two thirds of the glass but the last third was a bit grating due to the heavy roast. A solid enough porter that is worth trying but not worth seeking out.

Serving type: on-tap

12-15-2010 02:47:16 | More by glid02

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle care of Cashew70, thanks! There appears to be some unreadable ink on the neck of the bottle so I have no idea of the freshness of this one.

Cap pops with a big hiss of carbonation and it pours with a rediculous amount of tan head that takes up more than half the pint glass. Appears a clear brown color that when held to the light displays some ruby hues. As the head slowly fades big patches of lace cling to the glassware.

Aroma of this brew has notes of coffee and cocoa with some mineral quality about the smell as well. Taking a sip reveals quite a bit of yeast character like homebrew that is "green" or young. It has a light feel with a high level of carbonation. Flavors of coffee and cocoa meet the mineral character indicated by the nose and quite a bit of yeast flavor even though almost 1/2 the beer is still in the bottle. Slight bitter hop character with a mild amount of dark grain flavor that lingers in the mouth with a mix of coffee and chocolate flavor. Also noted is a bit of tobacco like flavor left in the mouth. For nearly 8% alcohol it is hidden quite well except for it's increasing warming quality as you take more sips.

Overall it doesn't taste that bad, I just think maybe it was rushed or bottled prematurely due to the amount of yeast flavor in it. The yeast flavor and the unusually high level of carb makes the drinkability of this one suffer.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2010 23:32:04 | More by stakem

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.58/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark, semi-translucent, chocolaty mahogany with a thick, pale tan head that sticks around for a bit. Aroma is mainly of molasses with a smoky undertone. Flavor is malty and a bit sweet with hints of molasses, nuts and caramel. Texture is silky-smooth and leaves behind a nice, firm tingle.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2010 01:00:15 | More by Cyberkedi

kylehay2004

Florida

3.78/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: thin head on a deep brown body.

S: oak, caramel malt and earthy hops.

T: nice smokey and mold mesquite note late in the finish. This is what a porter should taste like. Some intermixed roasted malt and earthy hops.

M: medium body and moderate carbonation.

Overall: closer to a brown than a porter but the mesquite and smokey notes are excellent

Serving type: on-tap

05-18-2012 22:59:55 | More by kylehay2004

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.28/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottles received from RustyDiamond, much appreciated. This beer is dark brown color, opaque except for just a little light which sifts through, I guess strongly translucent with extremely low light transmission. Tan frothy foam that laces in stringy pieces onto the glass. The aroma is very nice, chocolate and roasted coffee beans, rich and promising. Luckily the taste delivers, dark chocolate with espresso, some roasted malt bitterness in the aftertaste. This is very good, among the most flavorful stouts I've had. The only potential ding is the mouthfeel, which is a tad light compared with the intense flavors, but this IS a porter and not a stout so I think it's about right. Highly reccomended.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2009 00:23:14 | More by TurdFurgison

nickfl

Florida

4.05/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - One finger of light tan head on an opaque black body with minor, ruby highlights. The foam settles quickly and leaves nice lace.

S - A nice roast malt aroma of coffee, chocolate, and chicory. Notes of licorice, caramel, and espresso with a hint of pine hops.

T - Caramel and coffee malt flavors up front with cinnamon and clove notes. Dry roast malt flavors of cola and licorice in the middle. Finishes with strong roast grain character and mild pine hop flavor and bitterness. Lingering chicory and licorice; turkish coffee flavor.

M - Medium-thick, oily body, moderate carbonation, and a somewhat dry finish.

D - Pretty nice. The malt combination gives the beer a strange, spicy character, which is odd since I don't have the impression that it was brewed with any actual spices. The roasted character seems to me like it is as much about coffee as chocolate and I think it would be just as well described as a mocha porter. Either way, it is a nice, drinkable beer and while, at this strength, it certainly isn't a session beer, a four-pack wouldn't last long in my fridge.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2009 07:08:18 | More by nickfl

tpd975

Florida

4.13/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a nice rich matte black with a soild 1/2 finger mocha head. Nice retention with streams of lace down the glass.

S: Aromas of fresh coffee, dark roasted malt and chocolate.

T: Very bold roasted malt here. Nice bitterness exhibited. Loads of fresh coffee, and milk chocolate. Subtle green hops in the finish. Solid as hell beer for sure.

M: Medim in body. Silky mouthfeel from the oatmeal.

D: Good. I really liked this beer. Will head back to Mellow Mushroom for another pint before it is gone.

Serving type: on-tap

10-28-2009 19:38:58 | More by tpd975

blackie

Virginia

4.18/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

a: nonic pint, deep chestnut colored ale with a nice layering of cream colored foam on the surface, nice retention

s: nose of full roasts, dark chocolate, creamy oatmeal, really nice porter aroma

m: smooth, moderate carbonation on a silky medium-full body

t: medium roasts with a strong current of dark chocolate underneath, low dark sugars, earthy hop flavor in the finish with a mild bitterness, french roast lingers, just a touch of sweet booze

d: easy, especially given the elevated abv

single from Bruisin' Ales, Asheville

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2010 01:33:36 | More by blackie

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

3.98/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I got 2 bottles of this brew in a trade with oconman, Thanks John!

12oz bottle served in a standard pint glass.

L - black in color with a tan head that started out creamy but thinned to a layer that left a few spots of lacing behind.

S - heavy roasted malt aroma, notes of coffee and dark chocolate.

T - rich roasted flavors jump out, coffee, chocolate and oatmeal, bitterness is mild on the finish.

F - medium/full bodied with a creamy smooth feel.

D - goes down smooth and easy.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2009 22:02:00 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

merlin48

Kentucky

3.35/5  rDev -13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Twelve ounce bottle pours a dark chestnut body with a skimpy beige head that quickly vanishes. Minimal spotty lacing.

Aroma is faint, even after it warms to room temperature. Some dark roasty notes of coffee and dark chocolate and a hint of earthy hops.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with some oatmeal silkiness. Carbonation is too high and very prickly.

Taste has a dominant dark roasty malt bitterness with hints of dark chocolate or old coffee. Some earthy hops add their own bitter note. The high carbonation keeps the various components from meshing. It'a a bit better after sitting at room temperature for an hour but this shouldn't be necessary.

I was looking forward to this one but it just doesn't work for me. The flavors are simply not integrated very well.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2009 22:17:45 | More by merlin48

ArrogantB

Colorado

3.58/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle $2 at Beverage World in Ft. Oglethorpe. Dark black-brown, which is it? Smells roasty and in line with the style. Taste was rich, almost sweet, too much alcohol for a porter in my opinion but this was still not a chore to drink and tasted just fine. I would just prefer a porter at 5% abv so I can have more than one.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2010 23:16:24 | More by ArrogantB

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.9/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass, the beer pours a deep brown with ruby highlights and no head to speak of. Aromas are heavy in hazelnut and coffee, a good balance of sweet and bitter. The flavor is bold and round, and it's all coffee. A good, solid blast of roasted coffee rides the robust bodied brew. The aftertaste is a coffee bitterness with only a hint of the nut sweetness. The finish is slightly dry due to the bitter flavors, despite the robust flavors. Decent brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2011 01:53:04 | More by GarthDanielson

cjgator3

Florida

4.3/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle

A- Poured into a pint glass. Pours a very dark brownish black color with a light tan head.

S- The aroma is filled with dark roasted malts and chocolate along with some coffee. Very nice aroma!

T- The taste starts out with a nice smoothness and is quickly followed by a good amount of roasted malts and chocolate along with some bitter coffee flavors in the finish.

M- The mouthfeel is in between light and medium bodied with a good amount of carbonation.

D- Overall, this is a solid brew that I really did enjoy. It is a beer that I would definitely purchase again. Recommended!

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2009 05:10:48 | More by cjgator3

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks to Bhalter8 for providing this as an extra in a trade. He's a great trading partner!

Nice 2 fingers of creamy head with excellent retention. Deep leather brown colored beer. Lacing sticks everywhere.

Aroma is a combination of light chocolate and some roasted grains... As it warms a bit you can smell a hint of fruit.

Flavor is very nice and well balanced. Certainly milk chocolate out of the shoot. Smokey and then a mild bitterness to finish.. A combo of roasted charcoal bitter and some hops. Wow, this is 7.7% abv... really well hidden. Just a touch of heat that is hiding amongst the roasted flavors.

Creamy mouth feel and a touch of subtle carbonation.

Very drinkable. Almost quaffable.

Very glad that I got a chance to try this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2009 23:27:35 | More by Reagan1984