Red Brick Winter Brew (2004 and Later)

Wow, thanks to beeryum for this one, which is higher rated than I anticipated, and a "make-it-or-break-it" beer to boot! Just lovely! Pours deep ruby thorugh light with two-finger off-white head. Aroma of roasty malt, chocoff, nuts, cabernet, cognac. Definite prize winning aroma. I’m shuddering with anticipation as I draw it to my eager mouth and tongue (and the beer, too)....Yes, indeed, heavy roasty malt coupled with a firm chocolate presence and some cinnamony Ovaltinish element and espresso at the finish. I swear I taste hot frothy cream in this. Fantastic complexity and mouthfeel. More chocolate syrupy and cinnamon taste as it warms. I came into this review upset that I didn’t have a blockbuster for #1,600. I come out of it knowing that I did, I just didn’t realize it. This is one of my great surprises of 2005 thus far, and I recommend it to anyone. One of the better porters I’ve ever had, with as much character as any of them.

12 oz bottle via Jimboweed (thanks!). Pours a near black with a small tan head. Smells like a milk stout with notes of lactose, chocolate, and a little coffee. Flavor starts out with the sweet oats/lactose, then some coffee, and ends with a bittersweet roasted cocoa. Medium bodied. Average carbonation. Smooth and easy drinking. Very flavorful.

Thanks to unclemattie for the bottle. Pours near black with a two-finger head. Leaved fair lacing as it diminishes (quickly). Aroma of molasses, heavily roasted malt and coffee. This is a very good porter! Full body, sticky texture. A moderately sweet, medium finish.

’07 bottle. This is one of my favorite porters... outstanding. I look forward to it every fall/winter in Atlanta. This is by far Atlanta Brewing Company’s best beer... slight aromas of coffee and chocolate. pours a dark black with a nice tan head/lacing. medium body on the front of the tongue, but as the beer flows over the back of your tongue it takes on a thick and chocolate driven body. excellent finish - coffee, chocolate and a little bitter... stays with you. great for a cold evening or simply anytime.

After HB 645 lifted the 6% ABV Cap this July to 14%, Atlanta Beer Company took advantage of the situation and reformulated the beer. I had not had the previous years’ version, but here follows the review of the bigger and bolder release.

The beer came in a somewhat brown bottle with a somewhat plain looking label. The beer poured reddish brown and clear and appeared a bit thin for a Porter. The head was little under an inch thick, and beige in color. It left thin but wide film of lace around the glass.

The aroma was roasty and malty with a slightly smoky background. The chocolate and coffee in the smell were quite inviting. This was a full flavored beer with toffee, roasted grains, chocolate, and light coffee flavors being prominent.

The mouthfeel was soft and silky smooth, but a bit too thin. There was almost no hint of the 7.5% ABV. The hops made a fleeting appearance in the dry aftertaste. Nicely sessionable beer despite the boldness. Give it a whirl if you can get it.



Update 2006

The 2006 Winter brew came with a shiny new label, which felt a little more wintry than the old red and black job. The beer came out deep brown to black in color and was semi transparent. The head was quite small to start with, and disappeared almost completely shortly thereafter. The aroma was roasty and robust, and the alcohol was a bit more in the forefront than I remember from last year. The taste was quite a bit more “imperial” or “Baltic: as well, with a bracing astringency reminiscent of dark roasted coffee, bitterness like unsweetened chocolate, and some toffee flavor thrown in for good measure. Some hops perceptible through the smooth oily finish, which was no doubt a result of the oat presence. The belly warming sensation was serving as a warning against overindulgence while the smooth and silky softness was begging for it. A very good revving up of the recipe, making this quite a delightful Porter.