Engine No. 5
Pennichuck Brewing Company, Inc.

Engine No. 5Engine No. 5
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From:
Pennichuck Brewing Company, Inc.
 
New Hampshire, United States
Style:
Irish Red Ale
ABV:
5%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.63 | pDev: 10.74%
Reviews:
49
Ratings:
54
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 15, 2012
Added:
Jun 11, 2006
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
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Rated: 3 by hopley from Massachusetts

Apr 15, 2012
 
Rated: 2.5 by jophish17 from Georgia

Mar 01, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by EvanWilliams from Illinois

Feb 05, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by Knapp85 from Pennsylvania

Jan 05, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by nmann08 from Virginia

Nov 28, 2011
Photo of Cyberkedi
Reviewed by Cyberkedi from Georgia

3.48/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Pours a dark, semi-transparent mahogany with a fairly thick, if not too persistent, pale tan head. Aroma is malty and spicy, mainly cinnamon, with a hint of caramel. Flavor is malty with a spicy undertone, just a bit on the thin side. Texture is smooth yet rough around the edges, a teensy watery but still pleasing.
Dec 10, 2009
Photo of ClockworkOrange
Reviewed by ClockworkOrange from Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A 12 ounce bottle purchased at Abe's as part of a mixed sixer. Poured into a standard shaker glass. The ale appears a clear crimson amber color with about an inch of creamy off white foam. Nose and taste consist of...hmmm, pretty malty here, sweet caramelized malt, toasted bread grains, a bit earthy. medium in both body and carbonation with a nice bitter finish.
Nov 01, 2009
Photo of Mavajo
Reviewed by Mavajo from Georgia

3.7/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I also got this from the Green's on Buford Highway.

Pours a deep, dark brown with a nice head. Lots of lacing and decent head retention. The smell is interesting - kind of a roasted, chocolate, toffee thing going on. Taste is similar. My first thought, oddly enough, was of a Barleywine I had the other day. There's something going on here that I can't quite put my finger on - kind of a dark chocolate sort of bitterness. This has a pretty bold flavor, and I give them credit for that. The flavor isn't necessarily my cup of tea, but I appreciate a brewery that actually gives their beer some character.

Mouthfeel is decent. A bit creamy, unobtrusive amounts of carbonation. It's reasonably drinkable, but I don't imagine that I'd have more than one. All in all, I'm pleased that this beer seems to stand out a bit, and I was very pleasantly surprised, but it's not quite my thing.
Oct 02, 2009
Photo of glid02
Reviewed by glid02 from Georgia

3.28/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Bottle purchased from Green's on Buford in Atlanta.

Pours a surprisingly dark amber color with a one-finger tan head. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of dark caramel malts and lightly toasted malts and a hint of earthiness from the hops.

Tastes almost exactly how it smells. The toasted malt flavors are a bit larger than the smell would indicate however the caramel malt flavors and the earthiness are almost exactly as advertised. Ending is mildly bitter.

Mouthfeel is good. It has a solid thickness and moderate carbonation.

Drinkability is alright. I finished the bottle however I'm not sure about another.

Overall both the flavors and aroma seemed a bit watered down. I think this falls somewhere between an amber and a brown but does neither better than average. Don't avoid but don't seek this one out - Pennichuck's bombers are much more worth your money.
Sep 19, 2009
Photo of PhxHorn
Reviewed by PhxHorn from Arizona

4.03/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to Bon for this one. Despite springing a leak during shipment, I was able to salvage about 2/3 of the bottle. It pours a deep dark red bordering on brown, huge 1-inch tan head, lots of lacing. Smells of malt and caramel. Tastes of malt and caramel with a toffee-like finish. Not a lot of hops, but plenty of sweet red characteristics. Carbonation was just fine despite the leak, and I feel fortunate that I was able to enjoy some of this.
Aug 30, 2009
Photo of Gosox8787
Reviewed by Gosox8787 from New Hampshire

3.63/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Had this on tap at the Blue Mermaid in Portsmouth, NH. Poured a dark amber, red color a small light yellow head. The aroma is roasted malt and biscuity. The flavor is roasted malt, from chocolate notes and some bready, biscuity notes. Not much hop character at all. Mouthfeel is medium to heavy with a strong bite from carbonation. Drinkability is average as the flavor can be a bit overpowering and the finish is not very clean.

Overall, a good, not great, ale with some good roasted flavor and balance. Not overly complex though.
Jul 21, 2009
Photo of Durge
Reviewed by Durge from Connecticut

3.4/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
A gift from neighbor Tom this brew pours a dark cola color with a decent light tan head and good lacing. The aroma is nutty malt and vaguely grassy hopped. Not bad, along the lines of a brown ale. The taste is unfortunately much weaker, swampy malt and more grass with a little bit of tart apple and some smoke. Thin bodied with mediocre carbonation, somewhat drinkable but not something to revisit. Certainly not what I would have in mind with a red ale.
Jul 13, 2009
Photo of AlexCuse
Reviewed by AlexCuse from Pennsylvania

3.72/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
This was an average beer, not really anything special. Darker than most reds, and you can taste the malt that gave it the color. The extra malt seemed to throw off the balance a bit, a tiny bit more flavoring hops could help. Mouthfeel was a bit heavy for a red ale too.

I would drink this again, but I won't seek it out.
Jul 04, 2009
Photo of CheckMate
Reviewed by CheckMate from Maine

4/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz brown bottle obtained from Hannaford's Supermarket Derry,NH. dark copper with some reddish highlights with a half inch of off white head that sadly dissipated too quickly. scent of chocolates at first sniff, smells of caramel and toffee after the aroma of chocolate settles in. taste of caramel and toffee with a hint of chocolate. moderate mouthfeel, not too heavy. the drink ability of this beer is really good. it truly is a good beer.
Jul 01, 2009
Photo of OtherShoe2
Reviewed by OtherShoe2 from Massachusetts

3.03/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours a nice red/amber with a slight fizzy head that dissipated quickly. No lacing.

Some caramel notes and sweet lightly toasted malt. Not super strong or complex, but not unpleasant.

Mediocrity here. Nice caramel flavors and some bread toast and a little fruit. A mineral bitter edge toward the end, but not much else.

A bit more carbonation and a little more body would have been desirable. Probably would have turned the corner for me as to whether I would commit to this again. A decent beer overall, and I had no trouble downing the pint, but a bit reserved. OK to try, but not a must have.
May 29, 2009
Photo of tpd975
Reviewed by tpd975 from Florida

2.97/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
A: Pours a nice deep garnet hue of red. Very small off white head with zero retention or lace.

S: Tons of sweet malt. Mostly caramel with a touch of bread.

T: Malty mess of a beer. Huge caramel malt up front. Lots of dark fruit on the back end. A bit metallic as well.

M: Medium in body, smooth, low carbonation.

D: Not a favorite of mine.
May 07, 2009
Photo of armock
Reviewed by armock from New York

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A - Poured a brown color very ruby when held to the light with a thin tan head

S - Is of sweet malt caramel

T - Has the caramel malt as the nose but with some dark fruit added to the taste

M - this beer has a thin body with lighter carbonation to it

D - Overall its a pretty decent beer easy to drink with a good taste its worth trying sometime
Apr 20, 2009
Photo of thain709
Reviewed by thain709 from Pennsylvania

3.92/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A - A deep cooper body with ruby highlights...very little head even after an aggressive pour...minimal lacing

S - Sweet and roasted malts

T - A very well balanced beer here...starts off with caramel malts...there is a nice hop bitterness towards the end...it is rounded out by the roasted malts again leaving a coffee aftertaste

M - Medium body...could have been creamier

D - This is a good Irish Red...especially for not being made in Ireland...great drinkability...well balanced
Apr 05, 2009
Photo of Gavage
Reviewed by Gavage from Nevada

4.06/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: clear dark amber in color with a one finger head. Some nice lacing paints the glass.

Smell: loads of caramel sweetness comes through, but little else.

Taste: big malt profile with caramel, ripe black plums, red grapes, and a surprising hint of chocolate late.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Crisp to start, a bit less so at the finish. Aftertaste focuses on the malt flavors.

Drinkability:if you are in the mood for a malt focused beer this one is for you. Easy to drink too.
Mar 25, 2009
Photo of Brad007
Reviewed by Brad007 from Vermont

4.1/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a dark red color with a one-finger head that leaves a bit of lacing in my glass.

Aroma is sweet with a bit of smokiness. Emphasis is on malt here and it delivers in the aroma. Subtle.

Taste is nice and smooth with a decent amount of flavor. A bit of smokiness. A bit sweet.

Mouthfeel's full of sweet malt and the hint of smokiness. A bit chewy as well. Overall, goes down very nicely. Carbonation is a bit high for me though.

This is a nice and flavorful beer. Sessionable at 5% and easy to drink. It goes to show that good beer should be flavorful.
Mar 07, 2009
Engine No. 5 from Pennichuck Brewing Company, Inc.
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 54 ratings