Crouch Vale Anchor Street Porter

Brewed by Crouch Vale
Style: Porter
South Woodham Ferrers, England

Serve in English pint, Shaker

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Bottle. Dark brown, small and fully diminishing light brown head. Moderate, malty and lightly sweetish aroma, some roasted malt and light coffee with light barnyard. Body is light to medium, malty and lightly sweetish flavor, light roasted malt and light roasted malt with light barnyard. Finish is average, malty and lightly sweetish, light roasted malt and light coffee, light barnyard. Lightly sweetish and lightly roasted porter with light notes of barnyard in the aroma/flavor. Bad bottle?

500ml bottle from Cellers, Billericay, drunk today. Bottle 165 of 252, signed by Head Brewer Peter Rothera. Translucent red-brown. Fairly good, light brown head, not lasting. Big, chunky sediment comes to the top of the bottle when opened, with the bubbles, and unavoidably ends up in the glass. Med carbonation. Aroma - Dark, slightly savoury-smelling (dark, bready) malt, bit choccy, fairly toasty, nutty, with some mild, berryish, planty, English-smelling hops. Slightly metallic. Taste - Lightly dry, and quite nutty. Slightly sour, savoury, acidic, dark malt. Dry, lightly roasted flavours. A hint of dark choc. Bit of sweet berry fruits & tangy, mild hop. Pretty nice & balanced flavours. Nice dark malts. Lightly dry finish, with some nice dark malt flavours lingering. Med body, with a heavy, creamy mouthfeel and some slight carbonation & tanginess on the tongue. Reminds me of Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown Ale, which isn’t a bad thing in my books. More darker malt flavours, drier, heavier and generally more porter-like though. A pretty nice, nutty, fairly dry porter. Why do i really want some dry roasted peanuts now?

Cask at CBC Clerkenwell, London. Pours clear brown with a fine beige head. Basic toasty malt character, some light dirt, faint brown bread, moderate sweetness. Light bodied with fine carbonation. Faint dryness to finish with light earthy bitterness and mellow cocoa. Simple porter.

Cask @ CBC Clerkenwell. The pour’s deep brown with a tiny head. The nose is light lactose, some nuts, coffee creamer and sugar. Some general roasty aromas. The taste is some vinous red berry, sweet chocolate milk, hints of lactose. Soft roasted malt. Light body, soft mouthfeel. Overall, not bad, but it lacks some bitterness that would round it out a bit.

2nd January 2013
Craft Clerkenwell. Clear deep brown beer. Residual tan head. Palate is light and semi dry. Mild minerally carbonation. Slightly nutty malt. A little tangy orange hops and a tiny bit of red berry fruits, Semi dry finish.

Cask. Deep brown colour, small beigeish brown head. Aroma is roasted malts, chocolate, vanilla and some mild nutty and berryish notes. Flavour is roasted malts, dark berries, nutty, chocolaty as well as mild coffee and ashes as well. Nice.

Cask @ London Drinker 25: A deep, ruddy brown with a swirling head. Barnyard aromas are joined by damp soil and light coffee aromas. Sweet but floury in the mouth. Savoury white bread. Whole-mouthed and airy. Smooth but it leaves an odd feel on the teeth. An interestingly light beer with delicious woody flavours. Dark brown with frog spawn style bubbles. Sweet coffee aromas paired with weak cereals. Quite delicately woody and smoky. Milky and sweet like cow & gate baby formula. Smooth and milky textured. A nice, drinkable and sweet porter.

Cask at The Market Porter, Borough. Very dark brown with a creamy tan head. Good chocolate and roast aroma. Hints of fruit amid chocolate and roasted coffee flavours. Good bitterness. A great porter.

A Mes rate: Gravicask at Pigs Ear.
No head but a lovely rich mahogany colour. Pleasant malt and chocolate aroma with light fruity notes and some slight sulphur. Flavour is equally pleasing with liquorice, lots of fruity malt and a light sourness giving way to a bitter chocolate finish. Innocent and endearing.

Cask at Pig’s Ear BF 2007. Some smokiness here, as in most of the porters at the festival. But it is a bit rough at the edges, there is a more subtle flavour that does not quite manage to come out.