Vulcanus Red
Great Waters Brewing

 

On-tap at the brewpub: Dullish fiery browned copper color. Small cap of smooth, soft, light browned foam. Some spotty lacing here and there.

Aroma is dullishly sweet with malt. Sense a bit of red apple and red licorice in that sweetness mixing with a slight dryish German-like hop.

Taste is very well rounded and smooth with a moderate flavoring in a malt faction bringing a slight bready sweetness. Tends to bring a dullish red apple and duller honey flavor with a slight pull along a pale wheat malt backing. More or less, a more fruitier, sweeter rendition of the style then most. Kinda like a scaled down Dubbel without the yeastyness.

Very nice feel in a solidly smooth and hefty medium body with the perfect carbonation for what it is. Well rounded and nearly perfect for a what seems to be a simple malty Red. But there's a bit of complexitiy to this one, both in flavor and texture that really tugs at the palate and the taste buds to induce more sipping and/or gulping. I prefered the second; gulping. Which will be had it many returns with this lovely Red Ale. Damn fine stuff. So sad I waitied til it was nearly gone to try it. Hopefully it will make a visit again sometime soon to the rotation.

On tap at the brewpub...

Named for a St. Paul Winter Carnival character. Darker brown with a warm red cast to it, clear in presentation. Solid 1/2 inch of level and even pale tan foam. Laces in broken sheets. Kind of a spicy nose, red licorice in impression. Mouthfeel a bit less than medium, carbonation is in a similar category, but there's a pretty decent sense of texture going on. Flavor starts of almost buttery, with black pepper to go along with an oily one. There's a transition to fruit, but probably the one I'm most reminded of is quince, sort of fuzzy and spiced in the way it plays out. Finish seems a touch on the minty side. Not one of my favorite's of Bob's many new brews.