Neustadt Springs Big Dog Beaujolais Porter

Cask, Draught, & Bottle @ The Brewery: Earned an invitation from pootzboy and brewmaster Andy to partake in a tasting at Neustadt. It was highlighted by the ladder to heaven; Big Dog in a bottle, followed by draught, and culminating in a fresh cask. All three featured a terrific aroma rich in sweet chocolate malt, red wine, and some great earthiness. All three poured seemingly deep brown, but the assistance of a heavy-duty flashlight showed some terrific ruby colours with an almost transparent look through. Great head with excellent retention from the bottle, good head from the draught, and a loose and light head from the cask that left quickly. The flavour is exceptional, notably (of course) on cask. All featured a hit up front of those chocolate malts with tremendous sweetness, followed immediately by the wine on the middle palate. Significant hopping that came out strong as it warmed, but as the sweetness never left, it made for an exceptional balance. Man, did I love this one. I have a new stop en route to the wife’s family farm from now on. Thanks, Andy!

draught at volo- smells roasted malts pours deep red trning black small tan head dispersed quickly. smells fruits some cheese. tastes chocolate lots of chocolate fruit roasted malts subtle berry flavor, wood chickory. very complex a great porter.

Cask at C’est What? Very dark black beer, creamy tan head. Chocolate and loads of rich roasted fruit. Plums and toasted malt. Dark raisins. Very plummy and rich. Sweet dark chocolate, raisins and plums. Very rich with a soft earthy chocolate sweetness. Lingering fruity character. Lovely beer.

March 2008 Release: Darker, Maltier, with noticeably enhanced wine presence in the nose and flavor. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2006 edition: Many changes in this year’s release... Dark cola ( lighter than last year) with a great whacking tan cap that lasts and laces the glass up (malt protiens have been increased) Aroma...less astrigent than last year...deep cocoa tones over fresh baked bread and some piney notes from hopping. Solid malt spine, richer creamy mouth feel, solid body roasty-cocoa-hoppy character in fine balance. Up front a big chew on (it seems) German dark malts like rich liquid toasted rye bread...then nice balance from the hybrid hopping mingles with subtle fruit under tones the cocoa/coffe tastes...finishes mildly crisp, and lightly bitter with a bready after taste. If I had to characterize the change this year I would say it is "drinkability" and an increased body...a very nice porter in the London style but malty...I’ll be buying enough to last out the winter. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2005 release ( rated 3.4)... Chatted with the brewer over a couple of these and took a 6 home. He informed me that there is a detectable quality of Beaujolais wine in this brew In my estimation the flavors mate and compliment. Poured a dark mahogany that shows ruby highlights....wonderful close-pored 2 finger tan cap that lasts and laces the glass. Light carbonation. Aromas are delicate but you get a nice potpourri of coffee-cocoa scents mingling with tart berry juice and some grassy hopping. Mouthfeel is substantive... oily, slick. Up front you get the chewy roast malt and all the coffee-cocoa tastes then midway you start to detect berries ( currents) and the resinous hops. The finish is long and wet where the vinous qualities come forward...tart grape skins mingle with metallic hop bittering and the alcohol. A very nice flavorvored porter in the old London pub style with a slight twist...nice effort by this brewer

cask at volo. wow this is nice! great coffee, chocolate and smoke in the nose. flavour is much of the same. nice and full bodied, not too bitter int he finish, a great porter!