Beer Review - Oskar Blues Hotbox Coffee Porter

Oskar Blues - Hotbox Coffee Porter

Beer Type: American Porter - 6.50% ABV

Appearance: Oskar Blues style brown can with green printing. Beer poured a dark pitch brown color with a tan head that left lots of lacing.

Smell: Dark chocolate and cold brew coffee. Something a bit brighter as well though I can't place it.

First Drink: Roast coffee and malt with a nice tart/acidic flavor.

Mouthfeel: Medium with good carbonation.

Last Drink: Smoky roasted coffee and chocolate malt are still the main flavors. Reminds me of cola a bit for some reason?

Drinkability: Cold brew with some coffee malt basically.

Notes: Limited release in my area. A bit pricey as well for just a 4 pack of cans.

Verdict: 3.75 out of 5. Fairly easy drinking but not my favorite porter. 

Beer Review - Noble Brewer Nevermore Chocolate Porter

First beer review on the site since April of 2015?! Heresy!!

Noble Brewer - Nevermore Chocolate Porter

Beer Type: American Porter - 7.50% ABV

Appearance: 22oz brown bottle with the standard Noble Brewer label. Beer is a dark brown/black with a solid tan head that clings to the glass.

Smell: Big bitter chocolate aroma followed quickly by dark fruits and ending back on chocolate/hot cocoa.

First Drink: Dark chocolate on the tip of the tongue is quickly smacked with roasted malts and dried fruit flavors.

Mouthfeel: Velvet smooth with a slightly sticky finish.    

Last Drink: Getting more of the fruit from the chocolate now almost like chocolate cherry flavors. Can taste more of the ABV now as well.      

Drinkability: A big drinker and not something you will be pounding by the glass. A nice sipper.      

Notes: Noble Brewer features notable home brewers and their beers. This was originally brewed by Greg Tucker and was part of the Fall 2015 seasonal lineup. Had a couple in the cellar I just finished off for this review!      

Verdict: 5 out of 5. If you love chocolate and you love dark beer you'll dig this.

Beer Review - Sixpoint Brewery 3Beans Porter.

Sixpoint Brewery - 3Beans

Beer Type: Baltic Porter - 10.00% ABV

Appearance: Super limited edition beer in a skinny 12oz can! Out of the fancy limited edition can the beer is a dark brown. Can't see through it!! Nice big tan colored head on top.       

Smell: Coffee and dried fruits first followed by roasted malt and a hint of "spice". Can't smell the booze?!   

First Drink: Some coffee flavors followed by roasted malts. Something kinda woody and metallic coming through too?      

Mouthfeel: Not super carbonated but my tongue feels fuzzy. Seems very smooth.     

Last Drink: More malt and some chocolate and raisin flavors coming in now. The sweetness is nicely balanced. Getting a bit of booze now too.            

Drinkability: Very interesting and I would certainly drink this again... if it was ever made again!             

Notes: First beer I have had from Sixpoint and they set the bar high for me on this one.         

Verdict: 4.75 out of 5. Hope to see more unique collaborations like this one in the future (this one was between Sixpoint, Mast Brothers, and Stumptown). 

Beer Review - Sixpoint Brewery 3Beans

 
Sixpoint Brewery - 3Beans

Beer Type: Baltic Porter - 10.00% ABV

Appearance: Super limited edition beer in a skinny 12oz can! Out of the fancy limited edition can the beer is a dark brown. Can't see through it!! Nice big tan colored head on top.       

Smell: Coffee and dried fruits first followed by roasted malt and a hint of "spice". Can't smell the booze?!   

First Drink: Some coffee flavors followed by roasted malts. Something kinda woody and metallic coming through too?      

Mouthfeel: Not super carbonated but my tongue feels fuzzy. Seems very smooth.     

Last Drink: More malt and some chocolate and raisin flavors coming in now. The sweetness is nicely balanced. Getting a bit of booze now too.            

Drinkability: Very interesting and I would certainly drink this again... if it was ever made again!             

Notes: First beer I have had from Sixpoint and they set the bar high for me on this one.         

Verdict: 4.5 out of 5. Hope to see more unique collaborations like this one in the future (this one was between Sixpoint, Mast Brothers, and Stumptown).   

Beer Review - Meantime Coffee Porter.

New Brew Thursday continues! Sorry I missed last week... things have been hectic with home buying. Still working out of the archives here with this import.

Meantime Brewing Company - Coffee Porter

Beer Type: English Porter

Appearance: Nicely shaped 11.2 oz brown bottle with a classy label. Makes me think of steampunk for some reason. Beer pours a dark brown-amber that appears a bit hazy?     

Smell: No shock here, first up is the roasted malt, brewed coffee, and a sweet molasses smell.      

First Drink: Not sweet at all! First up is a bitter flavor from the malt (odd) that is a bit bright tasting? Kinda watery but the coffee comes through in the finish. 

Mouthfeel: Seems too thin for what I would normally consider a porter but still comes across as medium-bodied if that makes any sense at all? A bit highly carbonated?  

Last Drink: More sweetness and coffee coming though now. Seems balanced though I am not sure I like it.       

Drinkability: A nice sipping beer though pretty pricey here in the US. I think this one bottle was something like $4.00.       

Notes: Not as sweet or as heavy as I would have liked but the coffee flavor is nice and robust.     

Verdict: 3.25 out of 5. Not my favorite coffee brew but it's always good to try something new! 

Links: Beer Advocate and Meantime Brewing Company.

     

Beer Review - Thirsty Dog Old Leghumper.

Thirsty Dog Brewing Company - Old Leghumper

Beer Type: American Porter

Appearance: 12 oz. brown bottle with a dog and some legs on the bottle which seems appropriate given the name. This is a nice dark beer with just a hint of red in it when viewed through the light. Medium off-white head after the pour sits in the glass about an inch thick.

Smell: Classic "dark" aromas with chocolate malt, coffee, and some dried fruit lingering in the background.

First Drink: Not as much coffee or chocolate as the nose would have you believe. Reminds me more of a stout than a porter.

Mouthfeel: Pretty smooth, not a lot of carbonation here. Left my mouth feeling a bit sticky and dry.

Last Drink: More of the bitter coffee and alcohol coming through as the beer warms up. Nice and warming.

Drinkability: Already had a few and I could easily see myself drinking a few more.

Notes: First beer I have had from this brewery and I look forward to trying some more!

Verdict: 4 out of 5. A solid porter made not too far from where I live. Nice.

Links: Beer Advocate and Thirsty Dog Brewing Company.

Beer Review - Real Ale Shade Grown Coffee Porter

Holy crap! It's been over a week since I last posted on the blog and it's been since right before Christmas when I last posted a beer review!! I am incredibly busy with my job and life at the moment but this is something that must be rectified! Here is a review of one of the last beers I had in Austin last year before I moved..

Real Ale Brewing Company - Shade Grown Coffee Porter

Beer Type: American Porter

Appearance: 12 oz. brown bottle with a Real Ale style logo that looks a bit like a bag of coffee beans. Beer poured a dark brown/dark red color with a thin head.

Smell: Coffee, chocolate, and something nutty. Smells a little subdued for a porter.

First Drink: A lot more flavor here than the aroma hinted at. First up is the coffee, followed quickly by dark roasted malt and chocolate flavors.

Mouthfeel: Thin and carbonated in the style of all the Real Ale brews I have had but it has a nice smooth quality.

Last Drink: The chocolate flavors really come through as the beer warms up and the coffee sticks around for a long time.

Drinkability: I can't complain. Not the best porter I have had but this is certainly one of the best Real Ale beers I have tried.

Notes: This beer was a limited edition brew. I only saw it in the stores in Austin for a few weeks before it vanished. I hope I get the chance to drink it again some time!

Verdict: 4 out of 5. Left me wanting more.

Links: Beer Advocate and Real Ale Brewing Company.