3.9 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20Draft at O’Niell’s. Pours a dark, murky, almost black color with a frothy, average-sized head. Excellent lacing. Very faint floral hop aroma, scent is mostly of roasted chocolate and caramel malt. Slightly sweet, somewhat bitter. Medium bodied with a creamy texture. A good autumn beer.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
32oz Growler from La Cumbre; November 2012
The beer arrives from the tap with a light brown, creamy textured head. The beer is a concentrated brown, burnt amber tinged, but mostly opaque color. This has a nice roasted character to it, as well as lots of toasted whole grain character. The nose is certainly defined by the ample burnt / toasted, almost brown cracker like, character.
My first sip is smooth, with burnt molasses notes, a lingering bitterness and burnt malt character in the finish; the dark grain contributes a slight astringency even. This reminds me a bit of cold, somewhat dilute coffee, it has dark cocoa touches to it (especially in the lingering finish), a light dark-malt sweetness, this last perhaps even accentuated some burnt, dark fruit character that hints at raisins and prunes. The body is light and quaffable; the bitter malt and astringency help to make this a bit of a sipping brew though.
This is quite a nice Porter, it is definitely lighter than a Stout (in both roast and body), but it is complex in its malt flavors.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
Tap @ La Cumbre. Pours a deep brown appearance with a brown head. Fairly roasty, toasted coffee, light chocolate aroma. Light anise, rich dark chocolate, a bit burnt, light anise flavor. Solid.
4.1 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Draft at the source courtesy of erway, thanks! Deep marron brown color, small brown head. Aroma is dark cocoa, subtle coffee, and a whiff of nuts. Taste is milk chocolate, biscuits, burnt toast, subtle espresso. Top notch.
4.2 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Draft at the brewpub. Pours a coffee brown color with a finger of beige head that laces the glass. Huge toasty aroma, with coffee, pecans, and burnt brown sugar. The flavor is the same but comes together more smoothly; notes aren’t quite as distinct. Medium body, moderate carbonation, toasty mouthfeel. Spot-on porter. Best I’ve had since Hill Farmstead Everett.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 16/20
On tap at La Cumbre. Solid porter. Lots of caramel and sweet bread crust comes in the tail end. Some nice chocolate and burnt toast comes through in the finish, but I’d prefer a little more I think. Well balanced despite having a quite a bit of sweet malt flavor. Finishes fades into more chocolate.
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
Light chestnut colour. The aroma is chocolatey and breadcrusty. Relatively dry finish with lots of chocolate and a light roast/toasty character.
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