Cellar Rats Ratzberry (Raspberry Porter)

Brewed by Cellar Rats Brewery / Debonné Vineyards
Style: Porter
Madison, Ohio USA

Serve in English pint, Stem glass

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   add pic

7/14/2009: Ratzberry Raspberry Porter is near black. It has a tan-colored head that leaves speckly lacing on the glass. The aroma is a bit week, but does have some molasses and a hint of raspberry. As far as the flavor goes, it has chocolate raspberry with a sprinkle of cocoa. The raspberry is there, but doesn’t take over the beer. A lingering dark chocolate flavor comes through in the dry, lightly roasty finish. The medium-bodied beer has a smooth texture and real raspberry flavor. Overall this beer is very balanced and nicely crafted.

Sample (draught) at The Red Brick Sports Pub in Athens, Ohio during Ohio Brew Week 2009. Rating #1 for this beer.

On tap at brewery
This was my last sample and probably the most disappointing. I like a good porter and when they can be infused with something (peppers, raspberries, chocolate, etc) to give them more depth it can amp up a normal beer to something else. This one though came out unbalanced. It has potential to improve - hopefully the recipe can continue to be refined over time.

Aroma / Appearance - Deep black with a tannish head this is the only "dark" beer in the current line up. The nose definitely has fruity notes but I pick up more plum than raspberry.

Flavor / Palate - The main flaw with this beer is the palate. Both chocolate/raspberry and smoke are there but competing against one another. Rather than being balanced it alternates between too fruity and too smoky. The dry roasted finish is nice but marred by this conflict. Overall I think it shows promise but for now is a work in progress.