Rating:

“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.

Rating:

“Did the flavors of sugar and bitter sweet almonds and coffee in Imperial Biscotti Break also make you sentimental? Now we topped it off with insane amounts of doughnuts. This all time American favorite is making it’s way back into the spotlight and we at Evil Twin Brewing are not letting a tasty trend pass us by without taking it to the next level. Drink it with great gusto – Forza Doughnuts.”

Served in a beer tulip. The impenetrable black pour whips up a finger of dark brown foam that gradually retreats to a halo with some spotty but wet lacing left clinging to the glass. This behemoth ain’t about presentation…It’s about aroma and flavour and immediately the olfactory’s are all up in it with rich and super heavy notes of molasses, soy sauce, licorice, beef jerky and toffee. How these aromas translate into doughnuts we’re not sure, but who cares because once it settles in to the glass wafts of coffee and biscotti begin to open up with a nod to a different type of break….the coffee break! In the mouth it’s thick and syrupy with a chewy texture going on. The body is full and prolonged over the tongue as it meanders down the gullet. The initial flavour of this porter is complex and heavy but balanced with a thick, doughy sweetness (maybe the doughnuts coming in to play) that overlaps with molasses, coffee, nutty malts, dark chocolate and a very subtle salted caramel note. All of the flavours eventually convene on an indulgent, rich, syrupy and boozy finish that endures what seems like a life time on the back end.
Well if this is the kind of doughnut break Evil Twin are espousing then sign us up now! The sheer viscosity and depth of flavour showcased here is remarkable. At 11.5% it’s a slow quaffer and should be treated as so. Leave it out of the fridge for about 30 mins so it can come up to room temperature and reward those taste buds even more! Brilliant porter.

Rating:

“Based on our trophy winning porter recipe, this tasty brown ale has a little vanilla and some lactose (milk sugar) thrown into the brew. It makes for an easy drinking ale with a bit of vanilla, coffee , mocha & a touch of sweetness. Very popular! ”

Served in a beer tulip. We’re met with a deep brown centre that works to a gorgeous mahogany edge. A tanned two finger head develops but it recedes to a fine film with some scattered patches of lace left in its wake. The nose is definitely dark, toasty and nutty but it also touches on this sweet and lactosey vanilla scent that works in beautifully. We also pick up a few interesting undertones – we get an almost oak/woody note, charcoal and a hint of marzipan. Not bad at all. In the mouth it’s surprisingly lighter and more buoyant than we were expecting. The body sits around the mild-medium mark and to add even more session ability the 4.5% ABV is expectedly passive. The front palate is pretty timid with mild toasty notes, a hint of cola and subtle chocolate presenting. Not much in the way of distinct flavour through the mid as it rushes in to the slightly sweet finish that reveals soft chocolate, vanilla and nutty flavours on the rear. For us, something appears to be lacking. Whether it be the ABV, the lifted Co2 or the restrained flavour we’re not sure but it’s missing the big, rich malts and a teensy weensy bit more vanilla would have gone a long way. It’s not a bad beer by any means we just feel it needs a bit more oomph.

Rating:

“A deliciously sweet Baltic style Porter fermented with Belgian Candi syrup to lighten the body & then infused with selected coffee beans & the finest chocolate. The beer is then aged for 11 months in freshly drained rum barrels before bottling. Think Tia Maria Beer.”

Served in a beer tulip. She pours a heavy, dark brown with soft edges of mahogany. A short tan head is constructed but it recedes quite quickly as it settles to a ring with scarce lace being left in its wake. The aroma is super complex and layered. Jumping out is this red wine-like tannin that offers slightly tart notes of berries. Hints of oak, black currants, subtle vinegar and an almost medicinal character has us baffled though. As it comes up to room temperature the candy sugars, dark fruits and raw coffee does pull the tartness back a bit but it’s all a little too sharp and sour for our liking. The weight of the beer is quite good considering the vinegary characters on the nose. The body is on the fuller side of medium with low Co2 and a kind of spiky, mineraly texture going on in the mouth. The 8.2% ABV is pretty nicely buried. She actually drinks quite well. Some of the more quintessential porter qualities front up in flavour. Underneath the vinegar and tartness are hints of chocolate, coffee and earthy malts that eventually get gobbled up by this persistent, lactic, sour cherry flavour that carries in to the finish and provides this dry, fruity wine tannin on the back end. We’ll admit, we really didn’t like this much. It’s too sour and vinegary and not enough malt, chocolate and coffee to balance it out. Kind of reminds us of Brew Cults Acid Freak Porter…and that isn’t good.

Rating:

There are so many exceptional IPAs from this brewery, so to see a vanilla bean porter produced is exciting because the flavour profile could be immense given this breweries reputation for ridiculous IBU ratings. It states this porter is only 30 IBU so that’s a relief. The only interesting note is the use of ‘natural flavours’..we not so sure about artificial flavouring. Let’s see if it lives up to high standards.

Poured into a shaker, we see a dark brown/mahogany with a big 20mm off white head which is foamy, full of compact bubble and retains beautifully. Initial aromas of roasted malts, chocolate, espresso, vanilla, and mild yeasty barley. First sip is big on the vanilla bean. Huge flavours. Probably close to the most dominant vanilla porter we have ever had. We get nutty malts, more milk chocolate, very mild bitterness from the hops, a little spice on the tonsils, and no booze burn. This brew sits at 6.3% Alc vol and is bang on. Body is mild to moderate, with same length on the palate. Just lingering vanilla and chocolate malt. Back palate is very smooth with aforementioned flavour. Patchy lacing down the glass here only. It’s a smooth drop as it glides down the gullet. We have to admit we like the hop profile of knee deep beers, but for a porter it’s tasty. It’s nothing flashy but it’s a nice smooth drop.

Rating:

There is no info on this bottle, other than what is stated above. This beer has been aged for 6 months in Wild turkey bourbon barrels.

Poured into a shaker glass, we see a dark brown/black colour the body with an amber hit in the light. 10mm light tan head slowly fades to a light lacing around the rim. No carbonation seen here. The initial aromas are interesting. No hops, maybe a light roasted hit with a liquor like nose. Almost comes off watery and subdued. First sip yields sweetness like cola, a caramel hit which is mild and tastes a tad artificial, and there is an element of woody funkiness as you swish the brew around the mouth. Is this the woody barrel aged process? It’s a combination between bittersweet malt and bourbon whiskey. Obviously the 6 months barrel ageing process has ingrained the wild turkey like ‘heat’. There is a warming effect in the mouth. Body is light to medium at best. Definite watery/soft end to the brew. It’s only 6% Alc vol but we would like a bit more body. Mild carbonation. More roasted flavours, mild hits of caramel, and long bourbon notes on the back palate. We get mild vanilla, some nuts, some smoke but basically imperceptible. We really don’t get the salted caramel flavours that are boldly labelled on the bottle. This annoys us to no end as it sold us when purchasing. The beer is smooth though. Just glides down the gullet. Overall, we unsure of this one. It’s nice enough. Just not refined enough and missing the salted caramel/praline flavour which really would have added a layer of complexity.

Rating:

“Our Orange Vanilla Fathom India Pale Lager continues our quest for exploration. The piney and citrus hop aromas of our Fathom IPL combines with sweet orange and creamy vanilla – while staying true to classic lagering techniques. Brewed with a touch of nostalgia, it may remind you of a childhood treat, but this one is just for adults.”

Served in a beer tulip. Impenetrable black body with a finger of thick, foamy head on top. Retention is excellent, stubbornly holding up and casting a sheet of lace down the glass as it ebbs. The feature coffee and vanilla have been used to perfection here. Bold roasted coffee notes are reinforced by rich chocolate, toasty malts, cocoa and burnt toffee. What we absolutely love is the prudent use of vanilla. There’s enough to balance out the robust dark malts and coffee but it doesn’t overpower, just the right amount to tie it all together. Maybe a subtle hint of cinnamon in here too. Brilliant. They’ve absolutely nailed the aroma. The mouth feel provides a thick and hearty viscosity while the 60 IBU’s not only spruik the American disposition but adds another layer of complexity to this Porter. Medium-full in body. Again, brilliant. An explosion of flavour is detonated on the palate. Initially we get everything from coffee, roasted malt and chocolate to vanilla, hints of alcohol and an assertive bitterness that transitions nicely through the mid. A well rounded warmth from the 10% ABV bolsters the bitterness as roasted malts, coffee and a subtle vanilla sweetness leads in to a dry and bitter finish that goes the length on the back end. Impressive stuff here. From the pour right down to the finish this imperial porter is simply bang on. She’s rich, aromatic, full flavoured, at times aggressive and down right delicious. Kudos Ballast Point this is an outstanding drop.

Rating:

“Malt, hops, yeast and water. That’s all our brewers need to make great beer. Well, that’s what they have us think…Our latest Rare Breed is dedicated to the unsung hero of the brewing process: amylase, or Captain Amylase, as we like to call him. Amylase is an enzyme that naturally occurs in the malt, breaking down the carbohydrates into sugar, which feeds the yeast and kick starts fermentation. We gave the Captain a big job, making his namesake a big, malty Porter, and added a splash of dark rum at the end for fun! This is a classic American style Imperial Porter, dark and full bodied with a chocolaty aroma. The malt-rich flavour is complimented by the subtle sweetness from the rum and some molasses, and winds up with a gentle, lingering finish. Captain Amylase was first brewed exclusively for The Great Australasian Beer Spectacular 2016 (GABS) and we were so pleased with the response we received we knew we had to share it with everyone.”

Served in to a snifter glass. The opaque pour produces a tightly held finger of brown foam that gradually peels off and settles to a fine layer over the top. Not a great deal of lace but some random patches do manage to stick. Really dense and heady aroma here. We certainly get the sweet rummy tones leading out. Strong wafts of coconut reinforce the rum aspect handing it a Malibu-like character. There’s another beautiful, yet subtle fruity sweetness which comes off like fresh pineapple, it actually works in brilliantly. The aroma is filled out with your four to the floor chocolate, roasted malts, licorice and cocoa. Just divine. They’ve got that balance between sweet and roasted down pat here. The mouth feel is well rounded and viscous with mild Co2. Full bodied with a magnificently disguised ABV (7.7%). On entry we get a complex marriage of roasted malts, cocoa and a hint of that rummy sweetness creeping in. Actually, the rum is a little less pronounced as it is on the nose. It does, however, carry nicely over the mid before delicious flavours of chocolate and toasted nuts prelude a lengthy, roasted and ultimately sweet and sharp rummy finish. Highly impressive stuff from MG. Although you could look at them as sellouts (as they sold to Asahi in late 2015) the two lads from inner city Melbourne were adamant on sticking around to make sure the standard doesn’t drop. Well, it’s working because this is a bloody top notch porter. The rum accents are tied in superbly. This is one we’d definitely return to.

Rating:

“In this quite dark ale, dark malts provide flavors of coffee and dried fruit. Try with dark chocolate, cheese or red meat dishes.”

Served in to a snifter glass. The pour is expectedly black as night with a good two finger cap forming over the top. The head gradually reduces to a fine layer with patches of streaky lace left on the glass. Looks to be a perfect winter warmer. Wow, the first few whiffs of this is super heavy with strong aromas of roasted espresso, dark chocolate and prunes and or dates leading out. Earthy undertones of tobacco, leather, beef jerky, whiskey and wood combine to not only fill this baby out but hands it a brilliantly complex character to boot. Really moreish. For such a decadent and rich aroma she’s actually quite well tempered in the mouth. The texture is creamy with mild carbonation and medium body. ABV (7%) is buried well. Surprisingly palate friendly with a pleasant swallow. Basically the Vin Diesel of beers – tough on the outside but actually quite amiable in nature. The taste also enjoys a rich complexity as well. Kicking off proceedings is a delicious fusion of dark and roasted malts, cocoa, earthy fig and a subtle plummy sweetness that rolls in to a nicely roasted mid palate. A delicate hop bitterness creeps in as it leads in to a smooth, slightly dry yet malty finish with good duration on to the back end. There really isn’t a lot to say other than this Baltic Porter hits its mark well. Full in flavour with a dangerously drinkable texture. Lovely, complex and moreish characters throughout. Solid Porter.

Rating:

“Imperial Porter is a rather recent style that arose simultaneously in both Europe and North America. In fact it’s a stronger version of the Baltic Porters that were brewed in England for export to the Baltic countries. And Baltic Porters are in fact  stronger than the regular English Porter. To but it in short: it’s more of more. But they cannot be compared to their brothers the Imperial Stouts. They certainly have the same malty character but the heavy roasted malt is absent.”

Served in a snifter glass. The pour is pitch black with a compacted tan head that quickly peels back to a halo. Lacing is minimal. Quite a bit of suspended sediment floating around so go easy on the pour. The nose is rich and quite salty with wafts of molasses and soy sauce leading out. We get a kind of umami-like undertone annexing to it. A plethora of dark malty characters like chocolate, licorice, charred wood, whiskey and raw coffee beans fill it out. We’d have to admit, it’s quite unique…..and we like it! The mouth feel is surprisingly light and oily for a Porter of its size (10.1% ABV). To add to that is the minimal alcohol burn – very well contained. Low Co2, moderate bitterness and medium-full body. Dangerously drinkable. Upfront we get that slight saltiness on the lips. It has this uncanny similarity to soy soaked tuna sashimi. Something quite fishy and definitely salty here. As it warms though, a more molasses based flavour develops bringing dates, whiskey and charred malts to the table. A delicate alcohol warmth is eventually revealed as a slight suggestion of peat leads in to a long and drawn out finish that provides flavours of cocoa powder, prunes/raisins and coffee on the rear. Wow, at first we were a little apprehensive but this beast of a Porter has proved to be an absolute cracker. This hefty saltiness plays a critical role in boosting flavour but not overpowering, allowing the usual robust malts to shine. We’ve also forgotten the fact that this is over 10%! Hats off to these Dutch brewers. A delicious drop.

Rating:

“Our tribute to the great London brewing tradition, staircase porter is a decadent blend of dark roasted and caramel malts. Complex layered flavours of creamy espresso , bittersweet chocolate and toffee combine with flowery hops to create this full bodied nourishing ale. True to tradition this porter is all-natural and smooth on the palate. Named after the staircase spur, the steepest track to Victoria’s highest peak. It’s the kind of namesake this hearty porter deserves.”

Served in a beer tulip. The dense black appearance is capped off by a short tanned head that stubbornly holds up but eventually peels back to a halo with some streaky lace trails clinging to the glass. The olfactory’s are met with a nice bold aroma full of dark chocolate, coffee, molasses, licorice, roasted malts and a subtle metallic note in the background. A light floral hop note flows through beautifully, kind of reminds us a bit of pot pourri. Nice balance on the nose. The weight is held up well in the mouth. Medium bodied with a seriously slick texture. A gentle hop bitterness adds a soft dryness as it rounds out pleasantly. Very approachable for a dark beer. The taste follows the aroma with a lovely progression of roasted and chocolate malts that flow gracefully on to flavours of coffee, cocoa and floral hop notes through the mid palate. A suggestion of nutty malt and chocolate carry in to a roasted and slightly metallic finish with decent duration to the back end. We really like the traditional feel to this porter. It’s been stripped back to its base to reveal the true session ability that porters can actually possess. It’s also a perfect entry beer for the darker style and a somewhat go-to session beer for the lovers of everything malty and dark. Very versatile drop this one, it has it all.

Rating:

It’s been a while since we’ve reviewed a Black horse beer. No excuses for that really as they are literally just up the road from one of us! Since our last review though, some changes have been happening. The most noteworthy is the appointment of a new head brewer, Gerard Meares (formerly of Pinchgut brewery). The result of this is a beer that has caught our eye. Seeing as he is quite the seasoned purveyor of dark beer, this new Porter has us interested and we’re ready to pop the cap and get drinking.

Served in a snifter glass. The cola-coloured pour manages to arouse a finger of beige foam that steadily deconstructs, eventually establishing a light filmy overlay with minimal lace trailing it. The nose is essentially roasted and dark with a good amount of chocolate and malt emphasizing it. We detect a certain licorice-like scent but but there’s this slightly tangy funkiness to it that has us interested. It’s a little complex as it presents a certain fruity acidity but actually comes off as sweet, almost like sour cherry or underripe berries. It’s quite nice and we actually like it. The mouth feel is quite smooth with mild carbonation. A somewhat soapy texture coats the palate with the 5.8% ABV nicely buried amongst it. Quite tangy upfront, almost cloying in its borderline sourness. A somewhat musty dryness is formed off the back of it, carrying forward through the mid and picking up a mildly assertive bitterness with it. This Porter finishes dry and slightly salty with a pinch of roasted malt and chocolate to finish. We’d be lying if we didn’t say we weren’t all that keen on the tangy character. Other than that it’s a decent Porter.

Rating:

Well, again there is nothing to report on the label of this beer, which for us is not much fun. Just give us something. Sheesh. Anyhow, this porter has a nice dark mahogany colour to the pour, almost dark Amber in the light. There is a fair amount of carbonation on the pour, and subsequently there is a two finger almost creamy beige head which retains beautifully down to half a finger width. The usual roasted malts on display, but also chocolate, some mild juicy fruit hops out of the bottle but less so out of the glass. First sip is interesting as the flavour of ash dominates. Mild to moderate bubble initially. A good swish around the mouth elicits moderate bitterness like grapefruit or citrus which lingers slightly on the back palate, more roasted malts, very mild chocolate, along with an unexpected spice hit which coats the tonsils and really lingers. Very smooth in the mouth this drop. We get a mild to moderate body here, almost tad watery on the back palate. The stated alc vol is 6.5% which is hardly felt at all. As we nearing the end of the glass, there is virtually no lacing at all. You will see yeast sediment here floating around the glass. Look overall, an average but not terrible porter. We have had better that is for sure.

Rating:

“As black as midnight while exhibiting the aromas and flavours of morning. Aromas of espresso, mocha, and chocolate; leather and tobacco leaf too. Flavours of chocolate and coffee in a rich, oily and lusciously smooth body before a long, rich and spirituous finish. Brewed for GABS 2015.”

It’s been a long time between drinks for us and this top shelf brewery from Port Macquarie, NSW. Again, like the last few seasonal’s, this imperial porter deserves credit for some really artistic work on the strip. Looks good. Served in a snifter glass and pouring blacker than the ace of spades with a frothy two finger head to cap it off. It tried to retain but eventually recedes, establishing a thin film on top. Wet, streaky lacing is left clinging to the glass. The nose is robust and extremely rich. Molasses sweetness certainly comes through the strongest while roasted espresso notes and dark chocolate are there backing it up. Firm wafts of licorice, tobacco, charred wood and leather are all complimented by a subtle alcohol warmth that gives the olfactory a good old tickle. Strong start to this porter so far. In the mouth it’s velvety smooth with a sharp astringency from the 9.1% ABV. Co2 levels are mild and the body is medium-full. Surprisingly smooth for a beer of it’s strength though. The palate opens up with an acute sweetness but it’s very nicely balanced by a rich roastiness that offers notes of espresso and cocoa. The aggressive alcohol burn encompasses the fore-flavour and nurses it through the mid. A delicious hint of dark chocolate forms late on and delivers a rich, roasted finish that provides lengthy duration on the back end. Extremely rich and sweet with an evident alcohol warmth is the best way to sum this up. We would really only recommend this to well-seasoned, adventurous craft beer drinkers. If you love an intense, dark, roasted beer (like us) then get amongst it because this is absolutely moreish. Rich, warming, intense (there’s that word again) and packed full of flavour. Another tip of the hat to Waz for another pearler of a beer.

Rating:

“Brewed with well water (the original well at the Old Brewery, sunk in 1758, is still in use, with the hard well water being drawn from 85 feet underground), malted barley, roasted malt, yeast and hops. Fermented in ‘stone Yorkshire squares’.”

We guess it just makes sense to go for a beer that’s brewed in the same country it was originated from. West Coast IPA – USA, Belgian Dubbel – Belgium, Saison – France and the humble old Porter from the UK. This is not to say other countries don’t do it better (some actually do) but it’s nice to crack a real traditional beer sometimes. On we roll. Served in to a beer tulip. The jet black pour arouses a fizzy two finger head that steadily deconstructs and retains about a 2-3 mm cap. Lacing is thick, blotchy and plentiful. The nose is a lot sweeter than we were expecting. A somewhat port-like complexity offers viscous toffee, ripe cherry and molasses. Deeper down and we start getting hints of dark chocolate and fruit cake which really compliment the plummy overtones. A touch of coffee in here too. Good depth. In the mouth it’s light on with an oily texture. Medium-full body with mild Co2. Maybe a suggestion of hop dryness there at the back end too. It’s a full on malt assault upfront, plenty of rich roast, coffee, chocolate and cocoa with that firm molassesy pronunciation. As the fore flavour tapers off the mid reveals a boozy port-like note (obviously without the booze level which is modestly set at 5% ABV) that rounds out with a clean and roasty finish. Length is quite short. As much as this looks like your typical traditional English porter it actually isn’t. The hefty sweetness on show sort of shifts the focus away off the usual traits of roasted malts, nuts and chocolate and puts it on this kind of porty/molassesy/viscosity. Nice Porter.

Rating:

“A robust and rich porter full of vanilla, chocolate and coffee characters on the palate with moderate bitterness balanced with a trace of smokiness on the finish. For those who prefer to toast, rather than boast.”

This brewery from Melbourne, Victoria is one that we are always a little hesitant to try. We can’t quite put our finger on why, but this limited release porter looks as if it has potential and was an instant pick. let’s hope it stacks up. Served in to a beer tulip. The impenetrable black pour whips up a compacted tan head that gradually peels away and settles to a fine layer over the top. Lacing is scarce and wet but there are some trails being left behind. On the nose a commanding roasted character emanates the stongest, as a rich creamy vanilla scent evens it out. A firm waft of aniseed/licorice is detected and undertones of chocolate, coffee, charred wood and a hint of lactose fills it out. Quite nice actually, pretty good depth plus there’s a nice little balance that’s struck between the roasty and creamy characters. This porter holds a nice weight in the mouth and its creamy texture provides a silky smooth feel with a little tickle from the Co2 level. Medium-full bodied. What’s done really well is the masking of the 6.2% ABV, no sign of it whatsoever. Flavour-wise, a fine continuation from the aroma is displayed as a lovely roasted, nutty malt features upfront. As it flows through the mid the creamy vanilla aspect is backed up with hints of chocolate and earthy fig. A touch of smokiness is developed which descends in to a nice roasty finish. Great length. Well it’s safe to say this was a surprisingly good beer. Plenty here to like….brilliant balance of roasted malt and creamy vanilla, well bodied, smooth flow of flavours and a lengthy finish to round it all off. Solid brew from these guys, they’ve certainly notched back up in our book. Well done.

Rating:

“Porter is one of the oldest of all beer styles. In this modern day interpretation, it is an almost black, chocolatey brew that pairs perfectly with roasted coffee characteristics. This smooth blend makes for a well-rounded, luxuriously rich winter warmer. The coffee guru’s at Seven Seeds have roasted these beans especially for this Cross Breed brew. We added the coffee after a cold extraction process once fermentation had finished, giving it a fresh coffee twist.”

It’s been a long time between reviews for us and Mountain Goat. Even though there has been some crackers such as the Rye IPA and the award winning Barleywine, not much else has caught our eye. Until this. Similar to the Rare Breed series the Cross Breed beers focus on collaborations with, not only big brewers such as Brooklyn Brewery, but other masters of their trade. For this release they team up with Seven Seeds – a local coffee shop – to deliver this interest-arousing porter. On we roll. Served in a beer tulip. The opaque black pour generates a finger and a half of bubbly tanned foam which hastily reduces to a collar with fine, streaky lacing being released. The nose displays that divine roastiness from the espresso really well. Wafts of dark chocolate, roasted malt, hazelnut, cocoa and a faint hint of jaffa are here to back it up. It’s kind of reminding us of a mocha. Decent. In the mouth it’s a touch too thin with a slick, oily texture. Co2 is expectedly low. What has been done quite well is the masking of the 6.2% ABV. Untraceable in aroma and flavour. After the decadent aroma, we were hopeful for a big, roasty and chocolatey palate but it was all a little watered down. The flavours are definitely there though. Upfront we get delicate coffee, chocolate and malts which carry through the mid nicely. A touch of sweetness develops, maybe a little lactosey with a hint of creamy vanilla that lead on to a well balanced finish. A lovely blend of vanilla and coffee round out this brew. Look, it’s not a bad porter, it’s actually very well balanced and drinks super smoothly. It’s just lacking that intensity in flavour it needed to really hammer it home. All in all it wasn’t bad.

Rating:

This brew was the first beer the head brewer of Heretic entered into a competition, and eventually it won the gold medal. It has been many years perfecting and now…finally…it can be imbibed from the glass. Expect a rich, chocolaty, nutty dessert beer. Hmmm yes please.

As soon as we pop the cap off this bad boy, we get a lovely roasted malt, combined with milk chocolate, cacao, subdued hints of espresso, and an undertone of nuts. So far so good. Poured into a dessert glass, there is a vibrant bubbly tan coloured head that eventually fades away leaving nothing but a mixture of small and medium carbonated bubbles. The colour is mat black. First sip is bloody incredible. It is so smooth! There is a subdued chocolate, but a tasty sweet roasted malt profile with very mild bitterness. We are expecting a little more nut flavour…it is there but only in the background. There is a tingle of carbonation on the lips but that’s basically it as it glides effortlessly down the gullet. Certainly a light to medium body that reminds you of a porter or a dark ale, but with good lingering depth. Did we mention how bloody smooth this is!? Alc vol is 7% but you would never know. I imagine you could cook with this drop, like in a stew or a pie and it would be mind blowing. Half way through the 750ml bottle and the head is registering a slight buzz. There is virtually no lacing on the glass, as we served this at room temperature, and the slight oiliness of the beer is likely to be a factor here. The more you drink, you get a flavour in the mouth of nuttiness and we wonder if this is the ‘natural hazelnut flavour’ or actual hazelnuts in the flesh. Either way, it’s nice to taste the nutty aroma. Many supposed ‘nut’ infused beers out on the market are devoid of such added flavour. In summary, this is a very smooth, incredibly satisfying, sweet dessert beer that is well brewed and does what it says. We like a lot but would love it a tad more if the hazelnut was more pronounced. Brilliant job.

Rating:

Fresh off our last brewery tour we thought we’d stock up on some take-always before we left. Once we filled up the growlers we were told about these 946 mL cans which can be filled up with any of their beers then sealed with their own little canning machine. Don’t mind if we do!

Served in a beer tulip, the light black pour isn’t allowing too much transparency. Crowning it off is a 1 and a half finger tan head that eventually settles to an island of foam on top. Minimal lace. The aroma is slightly muted with a sweet, phenolic character emanating. Hints of earthy peat, dark chocolate, salt and licorice are also pushing through. We have been stewing hard over this, but as the beer warms there is a certain fruity sweetness that opens up….we think it may be either pomegranate or cherry. The mouth feel is as smooth as silk with mild carbonation. Medium body. Not a lot going on in terms of flavour, just the standard malts on the front palate, with it, very subdued hints of cocoa, coffee and roast that carry forward through the mid, leading to the dry, roasty finish. Like the rest of the flavour profile the 5.6% ABV is neither here nor there. Although the right foundations have been laid here it just seems to be lacking that knockout punch. Personally we’d love to see bigger roast, bigger coffee and chocolate balanced out with a bit of creamy vanilla etc. Not too bad.