Five years after it was first introduced, Victory Brewing Co.’s near-perfect Baltic Thunder is getting an update. This fall, on what may be the biggest drinking night of the year (that would be Thanksgiving Eve), Victory will release Red Thunder, created by aging the porter in red wine barrels. When the limited run of 125 bbls. is packaged into 1800 cases, Red Thunder will have been aging for approximately three months.

The casks hail from Wente Vineyards, a California company that is (according to its website) the country’s oldest, continuously operated family-owned winery. Used once to make wine, the barrels carry a tannic flavor in their wood, which complements the chocolately creaminess of Victory’s Baltic-style dark ale. Like the original Baltic Thunder, Red Thunder packs a punch at 8.5% ABV.

Red Thunder will be sold in 750-ml. bottles, first available on November 21 in the retail store at Victory’s Downingtown, PA brewing facility and shortly thereafter throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts and Ohio. We know what we’ll be bringing to this year’s holiday family gathering.