Victory Red Thunder

Brewed by Victory Brewing Company
Style: Baltic Porter
Downingtown, Pennsylvania USA

Serve in English pint, Shaker, Snifter

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Thanks, Kevin! Sweet hookup over some awesome mussels, rain accompanying. Nice dark brown pour, well carbonated, quite different from how I remember the Baltic Thunder. Nose is very appealing, with soft vinous notes and pronounced nuttiness, very little of the deep chocolate and lactic qualities one expects from the style. But what’s in a name? Really appealing in most ways, faintly tart but not so that it overwhelms the oak and nuts, and the chocolate that comes through more in the flavors than in the nose. Interesting hybrid of an oud bruin and a porter, well done.

From notes: Poured opaque nut-brown with a 2-finger light tan head. Chocolatey aroma mixed with deep woody notes mixed with wine-like notes. Full body with a long finish. Nutty caramel flavor up front quickly gives way to a dry woody note. As it warms, winey and chocolatey notes appear up front.

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.

Bottle out at home courtesy of Armin. Thanks man!! Pour is deep brown with beautiful red hues and a small tan head. Oak, red grapes, plums, light caramel, red wine, toffee, and raisins in the aroma. Taste is dark fruits, prunes, caramel, plums, light spice, roast, wood, grapey, and bready with a slightly fruity finish. Medium body with soft carbonation. Not bad, but really nothing special.

Bottle @ Stephen’s place. Thanks Armin! Pours a reddish orange/brown appearance with a light brown head. A touch tangy, caramel/chocolate, moderately fruity, oaky, slightly vinous aroma. Chocolate, tangy dark fruity, plum, raisin, caramel, a bit tangy flavor. Interesting.

Pour out of 750 mL bottle, dark brownish red pour with white, aroma brought notes of slight red wine, tart fruits, hints of roast, slight chocolate, tart red grape, hints of chocolate fruit. Taste is a mix of tart fruit, slight chocolate, toffee, slight grape, finishing fairly sweet. Ok.

Pours dark cherry amber with a beige head. The aroma brings the wine barrel signature sweet berry grape like notes. The flavor of the wine barrel shines through as well, which I love, bringing juicy grapes with a hint of wild yeast perhaps from the wood. The body is excellently carbonated and creamy from the style of baltic porter.

750 ml bottle. Pours dark brown with burgundy highlights and a small beige head. The aroma has roasted malts, cocoa, tannins, oak with a light tart quality. The flavor has the roasted malts and cocoa from the porter with tannins, oak vinous notes from the barrel. Smooth mouth feel leads to a dry finish.

Thin beige head of fine bubbles with light carbonation. Strong oak aroma with some sourness, light cider vinegar, grapes and some perfume. Color is a deep crimson brown. Flavor brings out the porter characteristics. Lots of roasted grains, vanilla, oak, light tartness and some raspberries. Oakyness makes the mouth salivate and makes you want more. Minimal alcohol presence for an 8+% brew. Finishes dry and tart and oaky. A pretty good brew.

750 ml. bottle. Thanks Dan! Pours a reddish brown with a decent biege head. Aroma of fruit, malt, chocolate, and wood. Taste is berries, wine, wood, and some chocolate. Not my favorite Victory brew. Interesting.