Alley Kat Sherbrooke Chocolate Cherry Ostiarius

Brewed by Alley Kat Brewing Company
Style: Porter
Edmonton, Canada

Serve in English pint, Stem glass

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***review from Jan 12, 2008***<BR. Ultra dark brown brew with a huge brown head that went to a skim a bit too fast - produced some decent lacing. I’ll say that the aroma was pretty good mainly due to the lack of the massive sweetness that I assumed this would have. Marachino cherries (however that’s spelt), dusty chocolate powder. It really took a good warming for the black forest cake smell to come together. The taste also was not overly sweet. Similar to the aroma and on the mild side - that is what saves this beer - still drinkable with a small dose of infused flavour. I found this beer to be quite dry with a underlying bitterness that I did enjoy. Finishes dry. A bit too thin. This beer is worth a shot. Never once did I notice the 6.5%.

650mL bottle poured a reddish-brown color with big tan head that settled quickly leaving a thin lace behind. Aroma of cherries and cocoa and roasted malts. Taste was lightly sweet with the chocolate and cherries and had a dry hoppy finish. Body was medium to heavy and carbonation was acceptable. This beer was nicely balanced and a rather enjoyable tasting experience.

aroma of cherries, cocoa, and coffee. Flavor, dried cherries, cocoa, coffee, and hints of caramel. Finish is dry, and bittter, but leaves a subtle cocoa sweetness.

Not too bad. Aroma is roasted malts, some fruits, and a hint of cocoa. Was hoping for more chocolate and cherry in the taste, but still very little. A pretty average porter though

"Label looks sad and cheap but the beer its self is good enough, extremely dark brown with very little light penetration the cap was a good half inch right after the pour but reduced to almost nothing but some how roapy lacing is left behind. The smell is a dead ringer for those chocolate covered cherries you get at Christmas, dark chocolate and artificial cherry, nice dark roasted malts also make through. This is shockingly good smelling way better then I expected to be. Flavour is also better then expected, bitter chocolate and the cherry is very noticeable with out overpowering the taste, nice and malty and not too sweet either. Mouth feel is to thin and watery this is about the only bad thing I can say about this offering from Alley Kat. As I drink this I’m reminded of black cherry ice cream, the after taste is a very mild coffee. Not a bad brew I’m very impressed if it wasn’t for the mouth feel this would a great brew but I can see my self actually buying this again."

Bottle: Poured a light black color porter with a small foamy head with minimal retention and no lacing. Aroma of cherry and sweet chocolate is quite enticing though originating form some syrup. Taste is also a well balance mix between some some cherry blossom with great notes of sweet milk chocolate. Body is a bit thin with low carbonation. I know it does taste somewhat fake but still very good nonetheless.

Nearly opaque, looking mahogany when light is able to shine through. Roasted marshmallow head, sticking around the sides of the glass as it recedes... retention is mediocre. Reminiscent of cherry liquor dark chocolates; Cherry Blossom candy. Nice smelling brew, though the malts and such don’t come through a great deal. Managing to keep cherries from tasting like cough syrup tends to be a bit of a challenge. It is successful here... unsweetened/baker’s chocolate, rich cherry flavour - but not assaulting. A roasted maltiness that is not really spotted in the aroma. Pretty nicely done. Creamy, almost a little slick. Carbonation is spot on for such a style, just adding enough to give some life without being skimpy or sharp. A pretty nicely done brew... a good weekend treat, a suitable dessert beer, or even for no special occasion. Worth a try.

6 month old bottle. Great lasting head on very dark beer. At first the aroma is all cherry syrup but then the cocoa comes in. Still the scent is a little heavy. Lots of dry cocoa flavour with the cherry playing around the edges and coming on strong in the finish. Interesting seasonal. I think that the 12oz bottle is the right size for this. Becomes more enjoyable as you drink. The cherry note does not quite sync for me.

This was a very nice beer. The lable made it seem sort of mysterious and it poured very dark with much cherry aroma. The flavour is as printed on the lable, but with cherry extract and chocolate dominating. This beer was great.

Another exclusive for Sherbrooke liquor store by Alley Kat. Very dark brown pour with a dark brown finely bubbled head. This smells exactly like a Cherry Blossom candybar from Rowntree (I may be dating myself here, as I don’t even think they make them anymore), all cherries and chocolate with a hint of nuttyness. The palate has a strong cheery liqueur flavour that is complimented and balanced by very strong chocolate flavour. This works for me, as I tend to favour roasted and chocolate malts, and the cherry thing just hit the right note. Probably not for everyone though.