Lake Louie Dinos Dark

Brewed by Lake Louie Brewing
Style: Porter
Arena, Wisconsin USA

Bottle - Pours deep brown with a small tan head. Smells of dark malt, coffee grounds, and lactose. Taste is smooth, roasted malt with nice bitterness on the finish, along with a little heat. It’s smooth, but a little too carbonated. Solid...I liked it.

Wife got this one for me from WI. Some coffee notes along with some sweet cotton candy - odd mix for aroma. Dark body with beige head. Carbonated brew with some coffee mixed in, some roast to start with and some sweet candy flavors on the finish. A good brew - different.

A vigorous pour has me noticing a distinct butterscotch note as well as producing a three-finger thick, lightly browned, tan colored head in my 25cl tulip glass. The beer is a blackened, concentrated amber color that shows a brilliantly clear, dark ruby color when held up to the light. The aroma is definitely heavily influenced by diacetyl, though at first it pairs decently with a toasted, lightly roast malt note. The diacetyl soon becomes annoying, though it at least doesn’t become rancid.

Sweet malt flavors are noticeable up front as the beer first hits my tongue. An oral / nasal diacetyl component then comes in towards the middle and then an almost lactic like tartness kicks in. The finish has a toasted whole grain flavor as well as a touch of roasted malt bite. The diacetyl is not nearly as noticeable in the flavor as it was in the nose, but it is still here. This does have solid dark malt flavors, I just wish they were able to come out more (the flaws really mute my experience of them here).

This was certainly an experience. The bottle is likely infected, but it could just be poor yeast / fermentation management at this point too. I do get the sense that there is a tasty beer in here somewhere. In fact the flavor, despite the easily noticed flaws, isn’t all that bad even.

Pours a clear medium-dark brown, in the glass nearly opaque with red highlights. A few streaks of lace. Aroma is oddly fruity, almost tart. Flavor blends pineapple esters with chocolate malt, the hops harmonizing nicely with the fruitiness. It’s tasty but a bit of an odd clash of flavors. Dusty dark malt finish. Medium to thin body, only lightly carbonated.

I would have enjoyed doing a side by side tasting with this one and Tommy’s Porter, just to see the differences. Poured a thick brownish black colour with a decent frothy brown top. Aroma is strong of roasted malts and charleston chew notes. Maybe some doughnuts as well- i don’t remember the last time i had a dougnut! Taste is very rich, it’s creamy, a little bit of coffee midpalate. Otherwise pretty rich brew.

Thanks to Skyview. Brown pour with a large foamy dirty white head. Dark fruits and sugars on the nose. Slightly sweet but malty and chalky. A hint of tartness as well as dark fruits with a cardboard-like finish.

Courtesy of Skyview. Dark brown color with a thin head. Light apple aroma and a little chalky. Easy roasted and chocolate malt flavor. A bit of sour apple suggesting an infection, but not overly-so. Kind of a middle-range finish between dry and sweet.

Hmmmm, this is a strange one. The pour is a dark chestnut brown color that shines sienna brown when backlit. A well retained, frothy, khaki colored head leaves sticky splotches and flares of lacing on the glass. The aroma is very fruity for a porter, showing hints of raspberry and, dare I say, even some grape, amidst the usual chocolaty and coffee malt profile. Earthy spice and faded, grassy hops complete the nose. Flavors include a roasty coffee baseline with bitter earthy notes, transitioning to a fruity midpoint of mixed berries. The finish moves back towards earthy spice, which lingers for a short bit. Soft and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is a little weak for the style, but easy drinking. Overall, this one is a bit odd with its fruit-forward profile. Drinkable, but not very impressive.