Anderson Valley Deep Enders Dark Porter

From a 22 oz bottle that cost $3.59 in Ashland, Oregon this poured a dark brown that actually had some ruby tinges on the edge when held up to the light. Medium rich creamy brown head that did not last very long but left good lacing. Mouthfeel far thinner than you would expect from its appearance. Flavor is roasted malts and molasses, with chocolate and coffee playing second fiddle. Finish a bit bitter. Overall just a bit thin for my preference in a porter, but still drinkable.

Considering the style, Scores ranging from 1 to 5, 5 being the most intense
Appearance:
Body:   Clear(1)->Murky(5) : XX     Light Brown(1)->Pitch Black(5) : XX     Still(1)->Sparkling(5) : XX
Head:   None(1)->Large(5) : 4   Off-White(1)->Dark Brown(5) : 3   Lasting: 3   Lacing : 2   Nitro : XX
Aroma:
Intensity : 2  
Yeast : XX   Bread : 2   Apple : XX   Tropical Fruits : XX   Ink : XX   Tar : XX   Olives : XX   DMS : XX
Malt : 3   Biscuity : 3   Burnt Toast : 3   Caramel : 2   Nuts : 2   Pumpernickel : 2   Cereals : 2   Coffee : 3   Dark Chocolate : 2   Vanilla : XX   Grapes : 2   Blackberries : 2   Cherries : XX
Hops : 2   Noble(1)->American(5) : 4   Leafy : XX   Floral : XX   Lemon/Lime : XX   Grapefruit : XX Orange : XX   Herbal : 3   Pine/Spruce/Resin : 2
Notes :   Earth : XX   Wood : XX   Mint : XX   Smoke : XX   Soy : XX   Bourbon : XX   Anise : 2
Flavor:
Initial Flavor : Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 3   Finish Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 2   Sourness : 1   Lactic : XX   Bitterness : 2   Complex : 2   Length : XX
Palate:
Light(1)->Full(5) : 2   Flat(1)->Fizzy(5) : 4   Clean : 4   Sharp : XX   Watery : 2   Oily : XX   Chalk : XX   Astringent : XX   Alcohol : XX   Mineral : XX   Oxidation : XX   Metallic : XX

Comments: A clean, well-brewed and maybe uneventful porter.

Opaque black body, charred malt aroma. Roasted coffee flavour with sweet overlying... watery palate.

Deep black body with a small creamy light brown head. Sweet molassas aroma. Sweet molassas flavor with some caramel and chocolate in the background.

22 oz. bottle, from BevMo Walnut Creek. Pours dark brown with garnet highlights when held to light, and a thick creamy tan head. Sweet molasses and licorice roasty malts, mild floral and herbal notes, with carob as well. Flavor is roasty, bitter malts, anise, bakers chocolate, cola, just about to turn skim milk, hints of floral hops. Medium body, smooth and very gentle carb.

pours dark brown/black with a disappearing tan head. hmmm it just has a kinda fizzy thin look to it. good cocoa vanilla aroma with some funky oak and piney hops. flavor sweet cocoa and vanilla with a hint of bitter coffee and something seems off. something like tart green apple. finish bitter dry tart green apple and coffee with some piney almost soapy hops. not a drain pour but definitely not what i look for in a porter.

On draft at KClingers: This poured a dark, deep black with a thin tan head. Smooth and slightly licorice-laced drinker. Not much of an aroma, but the flavor presents nice profiles of plum and a chalky roastiness. I’d love for this to have a heavier mouthfeel, but this is a darn good session beer for a cold night. (#2717, 2/18/2007)

My Bottom Line:
Dry roastiness and subtle dark chocolate scent this rather highly-carbonated porter. Very drinkable and easily approachable, its flavor profile is not meant to make you smack your lips.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A frothy head of foam tops the red-sleeved blackness.
-Raisiny fruitiness offers some complexity to the maltiness.
-The finish is mostly dry and roasty, and does not linger much; brighter supporting hops would have made the glass more enjoyable for me.

Bottle; no date.