Victory Brewing Company
Red Thunder (Malt Beverage Aged In Wine Barrels)
Baltic Porter
Pennsylvania
8.5%
25.4oz, Single
$8.99
Mediocre head of about half a finger, lots of larger bubbles which diminish its staying power and it’s all quickly gone, lacing likewise on the weak side. Clean black liquid of full opacity, no real orange or yellow tints, just some brown around the edges, no real way to visually gauge the carbonation. Malty nose with cocoa, mocha, coconut, butterscotch and vanilla bean, maybe a hint of sour red wine but no real “vinous” presence, at the same time no real hoppy bite either, dries out the longer it lingers in the nostrils, seems like a straight up porter. Medium-bodied, slightly creamy during the attack then gets quite dry and close to dusty in texture. Chocolate, vanilla, caramel, a light dose of black licorice and coconut as well as scone bread. The carbonation is weak and it moves at a sluggish pace. Glimmer of cherry to plum fruit, not a lot of lactose or milky qualities. While it’s posture is nice, still wish it moved more gracefully. Still not sure what the wine barrels contribute, except some sour notes through the finish. By no means a bad beer, just unsure of what makes it “unusual” versus a basic rendition of a traditional style.
3 out of 5