The weather is finally getting nice around here, and I was outside for a while after work playing soccer with my son. After we were finished, it was nice to come inside and sit down with a beer while my wife made dinner. This beer was part of a mixed 6 pack my wife got me for my birthday in the fall. I figured since it was getting warmer, I’d better enjoy this porter before it got too warm.
Location: Poured into a slightly curved pint glass at my home in Bloomington, IL.
Numbers: 5.4% ABV, 48 IBUs, 13.3° P OG, Color 60° L, 140 Calories
Ingredients: Malts: 2-Row Pale, Caramel, Chocolate; Hops: Northern Brewer, Fuggle, Cascade; Yeast: Ale
Appearance & Aroma: It’s black in color with some brown highlights when held up to the light. It has a big, rocky, tan head on it, which fell after a few minutes to a thin creamy layer across top – which left some nice lacing. There is a dark cocoa aroma with hints of malt roastiness.
Taste & Feel: The body is light and the mouthfeel is somewhat crisp. The crispness made it tough to tell flavors up front, but there was a little bit of roastiness. The roastiness grows in the middle, and some dark cocoa flavors come in as well. It finishes with a smooth roastiness, with slightly bitter dark cocoa flavors, and the roastiness and bitterness lasts for a minute or so in the aftertaste.
Food Pairing: With the roastiness and dark cocoa flavors, this beer would make a great pairing with BBQ, or a steak on the grill. However, it could also go nicely with something lighter, bringing a nice flavor mixture with something like a clam chowder or beer cheese soup.
Overall Impression: This beer had an interesting mix of roastiness and dark cocoa flavors, and it was pretty smooth and drinkable. However, there wasn’t a lot of depth to the flavors, and it would have been nicer if it were more creamy and less crisp. Overall, it was still a decent porter with plenty of dark flavors that call for a meal from the grill.
My Rating: 
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