Church-Key Chocolate Porter

20oz draught
8.0% ABV
The 8.0% ABV was clearly written on the keg. I tried this beer on January 11, 2008 at "Smokeless Joe’s" in Toronto. The beer poured a brownish black with a finger thick tannish creamy head. The aroma was a mixture of roasted malts and chocolate. The mouthfeel was medium bodied, creamy, and medium carbonation. The taste was definitely chocolatey. The alcohol, while not tasted, was certainly felt.

Deep brown body, medium tan head. Strong roasted malt aroma with touches of coffee and dark chocolate. Thin, somewhat sour, acidic body, with chocolate (Hershey’s syrup) and roasted malt, neither too sweet nor too dry, but somewhat unpleasant. The remainder tastes like stale toast, the kind that was burned and left on the counter for several hours. A disappointing beer.

(341 ml bottle: Obtained 24-Mar-06 in trade with blankboy, thanks Paul!) Pours a dark walnut brown body topped by a small, tan head. The aromas of nuts and roast quickly greet my nose, but contrary to my expectations, it doesn’t smell too much like chocolate. Fairly roasty flavor too, kind of nutty, perhaps a bit yeasty. Somewhat chocolaty in the finish I suppose, but it’s more a baker’s chocolate, definitely very little sweetness here. Moderate bitterness. Body is medium-full and doesn’t thin out one bit in the finish. Rather dry on the palate, and carbonation is gentle. Head retention is nothing special, settling to a sparse, filmy layer, and lacing is minimal as well. Overall, a pretty easy drinking porter, decent and enjoyable, but not nearly as "decadent" as the name would imply. They set the bar far too high with that name and the beer can’t follow through.

Deep read near black pour with a tan bubly thick head. Berry and chocolat scent. Very rich mocha chocolat taste. Malty and earty with a lingering aftertaste that lasts. Foud a bit of nut in the finish as well. The best Church Key I have had.

341ml brown bottle from gilvanblight. Poured deep dark brown, head was sparse, tan in colour. Flavour is lightly roasty, malty, slight coffee. Quite dry with some chocolate and black coffee finishing notes. Body a bit light/thin. Would be a nice session beer.