Velvet Hammer
Peticolas Brewing Company
- From:
- Peticolas Brewing Company
- Texas, United States
- Style:
- American Strong Ale
Ranked #101 - ABV:
- 9%
- Score:
- 91
Ranked #7,982 - Avg:
- 4.1 | pDev: 12.93%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 36
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sunday at 12:12 AM
- Added:
- Mar 03, 2012
- Wants:
- 35
- Gots:
- 132
SCORE
91
Outstanding
91
Outstanding
A tribute to our favorite Brewmaster, Greg Matthews, the Velvet Hammer appears as a dark, ruby reddish-brown ale beneath a sheath of protective off-white foam. It is malt-forward with elements of caramel and the sweetness of light brown sugar, balanced nicely by a combination of floral hops and a noticeable alcohol bite. It's a sturdy brew with a smooth character which belies both an inner strength and a slightly full body, along with a moderate bitterness to round out the taste.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Rated by gooddaydiablo from Texas
4.08/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
red, malty, brown sugar,
Jul 18, 2025
Reviewed by doulos31 from Delaware
4.03/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.03/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Frankie’s, Dallas. Deep amber, nice lacing. Not much aroma. Caramel, dark fruit, some figgyness? It’s dry, deep and rich on the tongue. I liked this.
Feb 18, 2025
Rated by T_Blizzy from Ohio
5/5 rDev +22%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +22%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Caramel, malty, floral and bitter. Always a treat when a bar lists a 9% red ale that's a ASA.
Feb 16, 2025
Rated by Manta200 from Kentucky
3.73/5 rDev -9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.73/5 rDev -9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
At Underdog in Flower Mound TX
Apr 06, 2024
Reviewed by Bluerabbitbell from Pennsylvania
4.39/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.39/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
3/26/23. On tap at Lake House Bar and Grill at White Rock Lake, Dallas, TX. With Sam and Wanda's friends after church.
Dark reddish in color. Decent off white head.
From the first sip until the last ..... yum! I really really enjoyed this one.
The brewer notes are very accurate. Just the right balance malty hoppy and alcohol bite!
Excellent!
Mar 27, 2023Dark reddish in color. Decent off white head.
From the first sip until the last ..... yum! I really really enjoyed this one.
The brewer notes are very accurate. Just the right balance malty hoppy and alcohol bite!
Excellent!
Rated by DavyJonesXXX from Texas
4.21/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
The notes are on point for me. Boozier than I expected but you get half way through the can and it rounds out nicely. Good beer would purchase again.
Nov 26, 2022
Reviewed by mushroomcloud from Texas
4.31/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.31/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
16oz canned 5-14-21, opened 9-20-21.
2 finger sand colored head slowly fades and leaves some peaks of lacing.
Glowing amber with nice clarity. Full lacing.
Rye-like spiciness, light caramel, and leafy/herbal hops.
Big rich flavor, spicy as all get out - malt and hops (?).
Leafy hops - I like that characteristic a lot, don't get it much these days.
Medium body with prickly carbonation, slick mouthfeel. Long, hoppy, and bitter finish.
Outstanding.
Sep 21, 20212 finger sand colored head slowly fades and leaves some peaks of lacing.
Glowing amber with nice clarity. Full lacing.
Rye-like spiciness, light caramel, and leafy/herbal hops.
Big rich flavor, spicy as all get out - malt and hops (?).
Leafy hops - I like that characteristic a lot, don't get it much these days.
Medium body with prickly carbonation, slick mouthfeel. Long, hoppy, and bitter finish.
Outstanding.
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
3.6/5 rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.6/5 rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Thanks to Heather for picking this up on her last layover in Dallas.
Red ale pours a dark reddish brown color. Oh wait, they call it a 'strong' ale here. Look, its an imperial red ale ok? 1/2" off white head. Aroma of reddish maltiness, bittering Nugget like hop influence.
Had a bit of everything a decent red ale should have, a light brown malt influence, light brown sugar like sweetness, respectable amount of hops and bitterness, but not something you would say was made to be a massive hop red ipa like end result. Requisite amounts of caramel, toffee kind of stuff that manages to not get heavy or sticky without resorting to lactose or heavy carbonation. I didn't think it had much if any of an alcohol bite.
So check this out, I really didn't like any of the ipas I had from Peticolas. Strangely enough, the styles I am not the biggest fan of, I dug, like this beer, the kolsch and their "light" beer. If you're a red ale fan, I definitely think you should check this one out, but even if you aren't, this one is pretty good still.
Sep 19, 2020Red ale pours a dark reddish brown color. Oh wait, they call it a 'strong' ale here. Look, its an imperial red ale ok? 1/2" off white head. Aroma of reddish maltiness, bittering Nugget like hop influence.
Had a bit of everything a decent red ale should have, a light brown malt influence, light brown sugar like sweetness, respectable amount of hops and bitterness, but not something you would say was made to be a massive hop red ipa like end result. Requisite amounts of caramel, toffee kind of stuff that manages to not get heavy or sticky without resorting to lactose or heavy carbonation. I didn't think it had much if any of an alcohol bite.
So check this out, I really didn't like any of the ipas I had from Peticolas. Strangely enough, the styles I am not the biggest fan of, I dug, like this beer, the kolsch and their "light" beer. If you're a red ale fan, I definitely think you should check this one out, but even if you aren't, this one is pretty good still.
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!