Ballast Point Black Marlin Porter

Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company
Style: Porter
San Diego, California USA

Bought this 22oz bottle at the Whole Foods in La Jolla, CA. Pours a deep dark color with a lacing tan head. Roasted chocolate aroma, with a hint of coffee. Goes down smooth. Rich chocolate taste. Roasted finish. A decent porter!

Pours with an opaque, deep, darkest brown, almost black color and is topped by a frothy, initially one-finger thick light brown to tan colored head. The aroma has a rich chocolate note to it that leads to a light roasted grain acidity towards the end. A touch of a nutty dark grain note and a hint of roast grain husk rounds out the suite of dark malt aromatics. Underneath the malt is a light hop note that has a bit of citrus-like character to it.

Wow, this has a rich, creamy mouthfeel to it that I was not expecting. It is quite rich, and oh so smooth of a drinker. The body reminds me of Fuller’s Porter, but is much more dark malt focused in the flavor. Notes of espresso are evident; both the burnt notes as well as a some of the acidity in the finish. The burnt grain acidity adds a quenching tartness to this brew that balances the creamy rich, chocolate-like maltiness that is found up front. As my palate gets used to the richness of this brew the acidity begins to dominate the flavor profile. It is a bit much but all I have to do is wait enough time between sips for this to not happen. There is a touch of something like molasses in the flavor, which combines with the dominant chocolate note. All in al this is a very satisfying brew, I like what I have seen from this brewery so far, in fact this one might be my favorite yet.

<font size=-4>Purchased at: <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Place/arizona/scottsd Brewing Co, Scottsdale, AZ<font size=-1>

22oz bottle. Dark red-brown pour. A little tan head. Good lacing. Some roasted malt in the subtle nose, predominantly coffee. Mocha and more chocolate tone on the downtake. As I bring the glass again and again to my lips/face/nose, I get an astringent smell that I cannot place, but not too bad. The more it warms, the more coffee and toffee/caramel/sweet candy tones come out. I get a little bit of the advertised hops on the slightly bitter aftertaste. But the hops tones on all levels are second fiddle to the roasted malts and occasional sweet malt aftermath. A fine porter.

22oz. Bottle. Had a sweet fruit and choclate aroma. Black body with decent tan head and some lacing. Flavor of rich chocolate milk and some roasty flavor along with some alcohol on finish. Little dry on palate but a smooth enjoyable beer.

Bottle poured black with a big thick creamy brown head and lacing. Sweet roasty chocolate malt aroma and flavor with a medium body. Light alcohol flavor at finish. Not bad at all for a $2.99 bomber!

22 oz bottle, via zug4abby. Pours a very dark brown with a little mahogany in the edges under a creamy two finger light brown head. Nice lacing with no sediment in bottle. Chocolate malt dominates the aroma with touches of caramel, light hoppiness, roast, and light coffee. Flavor is chocolate malt, moderate bitterness, and a dry chalky finish. A little coffee in the finish as well. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with moderate fizzy carbonation. Kind of chalky in texture on the finish. Overall, an average Porter. Drinkable, but nothing outstanding.

22oz bottle from Bev Mo La Mesa. Pours a deep chocolate brown with a medium bodied tan head. Aroma of chocolate, coffee and some dark fruits such as plums and raisens. Flavor is pretty much the same.

22oz bomber via trade with Foolish_Mortal - Thanks Brandon! - Pours very dark brown with a foamy tan head that stays well and laces the sides of the glass. Aromas of light roasted malts and a hint of coffee. Flavor is much bolder than the aroma. Roasted malts, coffee and chocolate. A touch of nutty flavor there too. Mouthfeel is creamy with good medium body and a lingering smoky chocolate aftertaste. Seems more in the mold of an English Style porter to me. Very drinkable and a pretty tasty brew.