Black Oak Nutcracker

Brewed by Black Oak Brewing
Style: Porter
Etobicoke, Canada

330ml bottle/cask at the Victory Café - I bought 24 of these, simply assuming it would be great based on Black Oaks other beer (and especially their seasonals)...I was right. Pours black with a nice brown head, much like the crema on a shot of espresso. This is that dark as well. The head stuck around in a thin layer throughout the glass. Aroma is of sweet, roasted malt, with a good dose of cinnamon in there. This combines to almost smell of spiced fruit - maybe cherries perhaps? Flavour is actually quite light and very drinkable, but still full and rich. Roasted malt, cinnamon, light coffee and chocolate come at you in waves, before a slightly hoppy, bitter finish. Rather complex.The flavour stays a long time in the mouth. Very good porter, and perfect for the season. Yet another fantastic beer from Black Oak. Unique.

-slight re-rate - I feel this beer has filled in a bit with experience! Now a little fatter and more satisfying. + 2 more / overall imp- ==== This was prettty good - fairly light and quaffable. A little spicy, hints of deep roasty malts Did not envelop me in textures and flavors, hmm, have to try again. <re-rate> up a full .1 point all across and .2 overall. Really nice rounded out ale with spices apparent but not dominating. Had some more body and was silky in feel.

Draught @ Gourmet Food & Wine Show: Man, I must just love porters, as they seem to be joining stouts at the top of my rates. This one is well deserving of a place near the top as I got a chance to try the 2006 (ie. 4th) edition of this seasonal. Pours red and black, very good thick head. Aroma of deep roasted coffee and spices, very inviting. The flavour is exceptional, boasting a lot of malts with a noticeable amount of cinnamon inside that dark roasted coffee and bitter dark chocolate. It’s complex and it’s so tasty I couldn’t stay away. It was the talk of the show tonight, can’t wait to try it again.

Very good, from the aroma it is just nice the malts’ smells. The colour is black and a little sweet in taste, which is fine.

Bottled thanks to HogTownHarry! Poured a clear, very deep brown with a reddish-tint in the light... very nice initial cap of creamy medium brown head. Nose was rather weak, but burnt... with coffee grounds and some darker chocolate. Very nice flavor of burnt coffee, baker’s chocolate, and a bit of cinnamon spicing coming through around the finish. Around medium body.. solid, but not memorable on the palate.. a bit of well-placed espresso and woody bitterness at the finish. Nice beer.. Thanks, Harry!

acquired this 12 oz. bottle courtesy of Pailhead, TY Kevin. near black in color with a tan head which fades to a lasting ring of lace. aroma is roasty malt and dark bittersweet chocolate. flavor is dominated by coffee notes with some of the previously mentioned aromas showing up as well. solid porter.

Bottle. It’s about time I rated this, I’ve drank it so many times and traded a bunch of them, hell half the ratings on this page are from bottles I’ve traded. Pours a very dark brown, almost black, with a huge mostly lasting rocky tan head and it looks pretty darn good. Aroma has a mild roastness along with some caramel malt, chocolate, spices and mild green hops. Flavour has lots of coffee with roasted malt, spices and hops. Nice body, it’s at least medium. I really like this, it’s a very good Porter and I hope Black Oak continue making it annualy.

Bottle from Paul (blankboy) Thanks!Porter brewed with spices huh? Interesting. The cinnamon in this one did not come out the way I was thinking it was, but in the end it becomes a very easy to drink smooth porter. Perhaps this is a little too thin on the palate. Has a nice lingering finish. Not bad, I would drink it again.