Oskar Blues Brewery ‘Hotbox’ Coffee Porter

Rating:

15232254_608531702664312_900817411381649220_n“This porter (6.4% ABV, 30 IBUs) is based on malt flavors of roasted nuts, crème brulee, cocoa, and caramel, extracted from English and German roasted and caramel malts. Hotbox Roasters then crashes the party and infuses potent, cold-extracted coffee from Burundi and Ethiopian beans and deals out flavors and aromas of dark plums, chocolate, and hints of blueberry.”

Served in a snifter glass. This offering provides a jet black complexion with a tightly held finger of brown foam taking shape on top. The head maintains quite well as it settles to a film with some patchy lace being shed as we imbibe.
The nose is absolutely superb. A brilliant balance between heavy roasted notes along with bitter espresso is countered by wafts of lactose, vanilla and milk chocolate. Hints of cocoa, mocha, licorice, toffee and a very subtle smoky character are all in support. A fine aroma – tough not to like what’s on offer here.
In the mouth it’s perfectly weighted with medium body, moderate Co2 and a smooth, velvety texture. The 6.5% ABV doesn’t show up one bit. Very pleasant for a dark beer.
There’s a nice follow on from the nose here. The front palate is treated to a well balanced marriage of bitter espresso along with sweet vanilla and a somewhat sugary/crystallised lactose. The silky smooth chocolate and nutty malts continue through the mid and round out on to a mild coffee finish with hints of chocolate and a creamy milk sweetness in the tail. Length isn’t too bad.
Oskar Blues do it again! The hook for this beer has to be its session ability along with its seriously addictive aroma and flavour. If there was one criticism it’d be that it was a little predictable in the end, it doesn’t push much further past the roasted malts, coffee and vanilla. Take nothing away from it though it was a bloody delicious Porter.