Carlyle/Lunar Chili Porter

Brewed by Carlyle Brewing Company
Style: Porter
Rockford, Illinois USA

Serve in English pint, Shaker

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The aroma is strong with chocolate and vanilla, which enshrouds a chili pepper note. It has a cream yellow head with a body that is black as night. There is plenty of chocolate in the flavor with a hint of vanilla in the backround. The spice of the chili pepper takes a second to occur to the tongue and is quite enjoyable. The balance between the sweet and the spice is perfect. Thick and oily on the palate, the aftertaste is pure chili pepper and is not overpowering, though I admit that I routinely eat spicy food and am accustomed to it. This would be a good porter on its own, even without the pepper.

On tap currently at Lunar Brewing Co., and shaker served with a cloudy, dark brown color, a little ruby highlighting peeking through, modest, bubbly, off white/cream head foam that diminished quickly to a ring & film, and left some dots & dashes as lacing. The aroma started with only the scent of pepper, then chocolate, light smoke, tobacco, and a hint of vanilla. The flavor then presented an expressive, throat clearing dose of peppery spice that lingered through the finish, and the continuation of malt with the chocolate character. Medium+ body, and softly carbonated, with an interesting combination of notes, but I struggled with the drinkability due to the abundance of pepper in each sip. The pint amount also seemed too much for one portion. More of a novelty brew imo.