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[expand]Total Score: 42/50
Excellent brown porter. The only correction I'd like to see is attention to the chalkiness that might require adjusting water chemistry to lower mineral content. Very quaffable. more >
[close]Total Score: 42/50
Aroma: Chalky, milk chocolate and toffee malt character up front with no hop aroma. Some fruity, dark berry esters. No DMS and very low diacetyl. Alcohol was only noticeable as the beer warmed up a bit. (10/12)
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Appearance: Dark brown with ruby highlights. Very good clarity; bright. Thin, tan head rapidly dissipated, leaving a thin collar around the glass. (2/3)
Flavor: Chocolate and caramel malt sweetness balanced with moderate hop bitterness. Dark cherry fruity esters complement the malt. No hop flavor—OK. Very low diacetyl. No DMS. Finish is balanced with assertive bitterness and malt sweetness. Nutty, toffee aftertaste. Alcohol evident but blends nicely for a very pleasant flavor experience. A chalkiness in flavor that carries over to mouthfeel. (17/20)
Mouthfeel: Smooth, medium bodied beer. Soft mouthfeel. A spritzy tingle from carbonation. Chalky sensation in finish is somewhat distracting. (4/5)
Overall Impression: Excellent brown porter. The only correction I'd like to see is attention to the chalkiness that might require adjusting water chemistry to lower mineral content. Very quaffable. It would also be good to have this served on a hand pump. I can imagine this with a typical English pub Plowman’s lunch or with a warm Reuben or Muffuletta sandwich. (9/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 40/50
The first time I ever had this beer was with scrambled eggs and cheddar cheese, sourdough toast and hash browns in a restaurant at the Seattle airport at 6 a.m., and I loved it. more >
[close]Total Score: 40/50
Aroma: Very low fruity esters, dominated by caramel malt sweetness, with a slightly grainy, roasted note. No hop aroma detected. Clean fermentation. Some licorice merges as the beer warms. (9/12)
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Appearance: At first appears dark brown, but shows deep ruby red when light shines through it; very clear with creamy, long lasting tan head. Lace clings to sides of the glass to the end. (3/3)
Flavor: Caramel sweet maltiness carries from aroma to flavor. Light licorice note mid-palate; seems more alcoholic in the finish than I expect. Slight acidic note, very low hop bitterness with no hop flavor. Some roastiness emerges in a surprisingly dry, clean finish. Exhibits malt and sweetness, with the dark malt adding the balance rather than hop character. Bitterness is just enough, no hop flavor. No “English” adjunct characters, showing this to be an American craft beer rather than a UK import. (16/20)
Mouthfeel: Body is fairly light, with somewhat soft carbonation. Slight astringency suggests use of darker malts, and accentuates the clean finish. I’m looking for just a little more body. (4/5)
Overall Impression: The more I taste this beer, the more enjoyable it becomes. It lacks some of the adjunct sweetness and fuller mouthfeel of some English examples, but makes up for it in overall drinkability. The roasty notes and slight acidity keep it refreshing. The first time I ever had this beer was with scrambled eggs and cheddar cheese, sourdough toast and hash browns in a restaurant at the Seattle airport at 6 a.m., and I loved it. Would pair well with a grilled cheese (cheddar) on sourdough. (8/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 33/50
Good beer that would be a little smoother with a less attenuative yeast. A few more gravity points would balance the roasted malts in the finish and mitigate the astringency and dryness. more >
[close]Total Score: 33/50
Aroma: Chocolate malt comes through strongly, with a slight smokiness in the background. Very little black malt is evident, which should be the case for a brown porter. Fermentation profile is quite estery, with pear, plum and acetate aromas. Alcohol is more apparent than in most examples of this style—verges on a Winter Warmer. (8/12)
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Appearance: Excellent clarity and decent head retention. Deep brown color indicates restrained use of highly kilned malts. (3/3)
Flavor: The malt profile is complex—initially has crystal and toffee notes, then the roasted malts gradually take over and carry through to a dry finish. There is an assertive fermentation character, similar to the aroma but with the addition of raisins. The hop bitterness is moderate and in balance, but there is a slight vinous quality in the finish. (13/20)
Mouthfeel: The soft malt character is a positive attribute, but there is some harshness and astringency in the finish more akin to the robust variant of this style. Alcoholic warmth is evident. (3/5)
Overall Impression: Good beer that would be a little smoother with a less attenuative yeast. A few more gravity points would balance the roasted malts in the finish and mitigate the astringency and dryness. Although there is very little black patent character, I would score this at least 5 points higher as a robust porter due to the dryness and alcohol. (6/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 35/50
Hop balance suggests a brown porter but grain says robust—this falls between the two porter styles. Really tasty and drinkable but it has an aggressive edge not found in most brown porters. more >
[close]Total Score: 35/50
Aroma: Moderately strong dark chocolate aroma. Light roasted malt, quite grainy with a hint of licorice. Some malt sweetness and caramel follow. Light esters and alcohol. Little if any hops. Clean. Roasted malt dominates, and develops a fresh “coffee ground” character over time. (9/12)
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Appearance: Huge tan head, frothy; settled slowly. Very dark brown. Opaque in room light, but a flashlight reveals a brown color with garnet highlights, and very good clarity. (3/3)
Flavor: Significant roast, almost burnt. Suggestive of a robust porter in grain profile. Moderate caramel sweetness with some esters. Moderate bitterness and hop flavor. Some licorice and chocolate. The bitterness seems to come more from roasted grain than an overtly hoppy character. Dry finish with lingering roast. Clean flavor. Roast is overdone and dominates, but hop balance is fine. Light alcohol flavor. Caramel and dark malts give a burnt-sugar flavor. (13/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium to medium-full body; seems pretty big for style. Moderate carbonation. Light alcohol warming. Some astringency from grain. (4/5)
Overall Impression: Hop balance suggests a brown porter but grain says robust—this falls between the two porter styles. Really tasty and drinkable but it has an aggressive edge not found in most brown porters. Not really enough hop character/bitterness for a robust porter, but closer to it than to a brown porter. Has more style issues than brewing faults. (6/10)
