Aiken Thoroughbred Red - Aiken Brewing Company

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.15/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The pour was marvelous. Rich dark amber in color with a nice brown consistency to it. A big head of off white comes up and over the top, settling down nicely into a pillow that never really lets go after that point. Really nice touches of lace ring the sides of the glass and complete the look rather well. Enormous aroma of earthy hops, sweet caramel and candy like sugar are damn near spot on. Warming it only serves to make it sweeter. Wonderful touches of warm brown sugar are the first thing I notice. Smooth, super smooth. Big, nearly full bodied feel here delivers tons of bready malts and an overpowering dose of caramel flavor. Just about perfect. Warming up brings out more candied sugar and just the most sweet malt flavors I could imagine. Nice dose of hops on the finish just brings the whole thing together really quite nicely.

Overall this was just superb. A style I don't get to see to often, but if it came out like this I would be dying to try it. Really just top notch and a cut above the rest. I would have to recommend this to anyone.

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2011 02:21:29 | More by mikesgroove

Jeffro96

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

1 Finger of head that quickly receded to a thin broken ring but that ring left lacing all the way down the glass.

Smelled of toffee, caramel, and grains.

Tasted much the same with maybe a hint of fruit from the yeast. Very little in the way of alcohol in this beer.

Smooth and rich in body.

I could easly drink several of these beers.

Definitely worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2011 20:33:38 | More by Jeffro96

glid02

Georgia

3.93/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the brewpub.

Pours a clear amber color with a 1.5-finger slightly off-white head. The head recedes into a patchy layer on top leaving thick lacing.

Smells of grainy caramel malts with hints of leafy hops.

Tastes very similar to how it smells. Grainy caramel malt flavors with moderate sweetness kick things off and are joined shortly by mild leafy hop flavors. The hops carry through to a mildly bitter ending.

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

Drinakbility is also good. I finished my glass without a problem and could have another.

Overall I wasn't blown away by this beer but it's admittedly hard to do with an amber. A solid beer for the style and worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2010 23:47:07 | More by glid02

superdedooperboy

Georgia

3.8/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a flight of 2-3 oz. (not sure which) sampler mugs.

Pours a dark ruby-reddish-brown hue with a slight off white head without much head retention.

Smells of sweet fruity and toffee.

Full-bodied; tastes of sweet caramel, with a rather fruity character without much hop presence. Finishes medium and sweet.

A nicely balanced brew, bright in flavor, and very drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2008 01:56:54 | More by superdedooperboy

dnichols

Washington

4.2/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: It poured a rich amber body with a modest one finger off-white head. The head had decent retention and supported a moderate and lingering lacing down the side of the glass.

S: It began with a nice toasted malt sweetness complemented by some red fruit aromas and a dash of floral hops.

T: It was well balanced with a pronounced sweet toasted malt base, hints of semi-sweet red cherries and apples, and a modest yet distinct hop presence (spicy not bitter).

M: It was light to medium body with a moderate amount of carbonation and a wet and clean finish.

D: This was an enjoyable red...not too sweet, nice balance, and a low enough ABV to allow it to be a good candidate for a long session playing pool.

Serving type: on-tap

09-14-2008 13:07:46 | More by dnichols

Garzan72

South Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I stopped by the only local brewery in my neck of the woods and I decided I was going to try one of their beers. I have been to the Aiken Brewery several times before but that was because they have excellent food. Its worth driving 20-25 minutes just to get a burger there. I decided to try the Through Bred Red. It was actually the best Red Ale i have tried so far. I think from now on when I go to Aiken Im getting a drink from the Brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

07-03-2008 05:59:07 | More by Garzan72

MSchae1017

Georgia

4.43/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

The Thoroughbred Red is very unique and tasty Irish Red Ale. It pours a bright amber with a frothy white head that hold and laces well. The smell is full of toasted, caramel, and honey malts complimented by slight amounts of citrus hops. The taste is sweet up front highlighting the malt characteristics, but finishes with the hops, both English and American. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and perfect for sessioning. Overall, this is an amazing Irish Red Ale. A Session beer unlike any other that has enough character to keep you drinking.

Serving type: growler

03-23-2008 22:08:13 | More by MSchae1017

kkipple

South Carolina

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

A pretty darn good red from the friendly folks at Aiken. Picked up a growler during a trip there, drank the next day.

Nice finger tall head that sticks around for a while, the beer is clear, deep amber with gold highlights. No complaints.

Smells of mild caramel, bitter hops, a little grainy. Nothing extreme, but nothing unexpected, either.

Quite delicious, really, and drinkable, a fine grainy, lightly toasted malt sweetness mingles with a medium hop bitterness and works quite well with the sharp, sprizty mouthfeel. Drinkable, clean, and basic.

Aiken makes good, but not great beer; this is one of their better ones. Recommended. I'll bring back a growler again!

Serving type: growler

03-10-2008 01:56:20 | More by kkipple

abedenbaugh

South Carolina

4.22/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I was lucky to discover this brewpub in the small city of Aiken. All the beers that I have tried so far have been great.

A:A nice deep amber color. An average size head
S:The smell had a little bit of hops to it and also a good bit of malt aroma, too.
T:There was a very nice mild hop flavor and just a small amount of bitterness. The malts was very pronouced and with a bit of roast flavor.
MF:It was light to medium body.
D:It was very easy to drink these. The flavor was very good and the body was light.

Serving type: on-tap

01-22-2008 02:21:14 | More by abedenbaugh

JISurfer

South Carolina

4.08/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Wow, this is an amazing Amber from the geniuses at Aiken. It's a smaller brewer, but sometimes, big things come in small packages. We enjoyed a growler of this bad boy and it delivered smiles all around. Great example of an Amber, possibly one of the better ones I've had in quite a while. Had a good smokey/malty taste mixed with an ever so humble bite of the hops. If I were going to brew an Amber, this is what I would go for, espcially for how refreshing it was. Try it if you stop by the brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

05-30-2006 02:52:21 | More by JISurfer