Red Hot Iron by Pittsburgh Brewing Company

Red Hot Iron from Pittsburgh Brewing Company came, brought the heat and then it was gone. Now retired the American Lager, Red Hot Iron was brewed once in a limited release to bring cinnamon flavored beer to the masses, or at least the Pittsburgh area. Pitched as a “fiery lager” this holds true from the moment the cap is popped as cinnamon aromas make their way out of the brown tinted bottle. Almost stinging your nose if you inhale too deeply it’s obvious Red Hot Iron is bringing the cinnamon and it’s bringing it often. Even the color of this brew invokes cinnamon with its deep red-orange tones with a slight amount of haze with a thick beige head that slowly dissolves.

Warmth grasps your tongue upon first sips as the cinnamon from Red Hot Iron makes its way onto the taste buds and its 7.2% ABV becomes evident with every additional gulp. The beer clings to the tongue as its mild carbonation give Red Hot Iron an almost syrupy texture. Comparisons to apple pie are unavoidable as there are hints of apple within the potentially overwhelming cinnamon flavor. Some have also compared its sweet, but mildly spicy to the “red hots” candy. Despite no longer being brewed the beer can still be found at various bottle shops and is at the very least an oddity that beer enthusiasts should give a shot.