 vyvvy (1689), Hazelwood, Missouri, USA
May 2, 2008
On tap at Spitzer’s in NYC. Pours very dark brown with a large thick tan head. The aroma has lots of rich dark chocolate and coffee malt. The malt is heavily roasted, just short of being char-like. The body is thick, smooth and velvety with light carbonation. The taste is very rich and smooth with lots of coffee, yet is not off putting to a non-coffee drinker such as myself. There is also copious amounts of dark chocolate. The finish adds some spicy hops and light char. I wish I would have had time to have more of this gem while I was in town. Thumbs up to this great porter.
Schultsc (407), Henderson, Nevada, USA
Sep 3, 2008 A house-aged keg at Armsby Abbey in Worcester, MA--Thanks Alec. Dark, burnished mahogany with a thin, fine tan head. Aroma consists of some graininess with light toast (oddly), caramel malt, and very little distinct coffee (more oddly--seems to be fully integrated into the other aspects of the beer). The flavor is totally dry with mild roasted flavors including caramel, spice, and bitter cocoa. Deceptively light body supports the potentially agressive flavor components (coffee, roasted malt, higher alcohol) with aplomb leaving us a lot of flavor that gently unfolds across a stable, nimble body. Very interesting.
JohnQPublic (162), Brooklyn, New York, USA
Aug 16, 2008 Draught @ Beer Table. Pours opaque black with a thin tan head. Aroma is centered around fresh roasted coffee, just a hint of cocoa. Taste is, again, dominated by an incredible true-to-life roasted coffee note - this isn’t a coffee beer, this IS coffee in beer form. Slightly nutty, roasty, slightly bitter with a hint of counter balanced cocoa sweetness. Medium body with a moderate carbonation. Really nice beer.
hellbilly (865), scottsdale über alles, Arizona, USA
Jun 18, 2008 750 bottle by way of goldtwins. there’s at least an inch worth of clumpy yeasty sediment on the bottom of the bottle!... medium dark brown color with hints of orange/red. that is topped by a soft light brown head with great retention and lots of airy lacing. immediate aroma of wet re-washed coffee grounds followed by roast, chocolate-y malt, nuttiness, wood and lacto sourness. the flavor reminds me of espresso vanilla butter cream... milkiness mixes with mild coffee, nutty/vanilla and chocolate malt. there’s also some roasty grain and light woodiness before a lightly astringent and dry finish. the coffee stays around in the aftertaste for quite a while. medium body leaning on full with a soft slick mouth feel and extremely smooth airy texture... nice solid porter! thanks larry...
hophead75 (1667), Boonton, New Jersey, USA
May 4, 2008 TAP NY 08. Nearly black in color with a small off white head. Aroma- pretty nice with coffee, light black patent, chocolate, and caramel. Taste has a decent amount of coffee, mild roast, chocolate, caramel, and light bready yeast. light to Medium bodied with a dry moderate hop bittering finish. Some light lingering coffee and hop bitterness. Pretty good.
kujo9 (1044), North Ridgeville, Ohio, USA
May 3, 2008 750 ML bottle from a trade w/ Goldtwins. Thanks Larry! Deep brown pour w/a lasting smallish light beige head. Coffee and roasted immediately in the nose, but not overbearing. Semi sweet chocolate morsel, toasted malt notes, and hints of malted milk balls and raisiny dark fruit and a touch of woody aroma. Also a light caramel w/a also a hint of acetaldehyde tartness that adds to complexity rather than detracts. Yeastiness also chimes in, and very pleasant. Flavor is much the same, but more harmoniously blended and well balanced. Light tartness from grains, roasty, but not overly so, great use of coffee and patent malt! Chocolate and toasted malt notes w/ a hint of dark fruit more present in the aroma than flavor. Finish and aftertaste are on the dry side w/ chocolate and roasty notes and a touch of caramel. Moderately fruity w/ a semi sweet chocolate aftertaste. Low medium CO2, a bit on the semi dry mouthfeel side, and lighter medium body. 7.8% ABV... Are you kidding me? Very, very well hidden! This is a really, really good beer! Admittedly I’ve not had a great amount of porters and I’m not a huge fan of coffee beers, but this is a pretty damn good one, and very dangerous given the higher ABV. The coffee is well used and not overpowering, but adds great character to an already solid beer. Thanks a ton for this one Larry!
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