Tag Archives: Porter

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), Beer Reviews, Hill Farmstead Brewery, Porter, USA

Hill Farmstead Shirley Mae

Friday, 2 September 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Hill Farmstead Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 4%
Style: American Porter

Brewer Description: (from website) Shirley Mae (1936 – 2015) was our cousin, daughter of Everett, and a beloved supporter of her family and Hill Farmstead. In her honor, this American session version of our Everett porter is crafted from American malted barley, English and German roasted malts, American hops, our ale yeast and water from our well. Chocolate, coffee, and light malty sweetness, this ale embodies her ebullient and generous spirit – a fitting tribute.

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.15
My ratebeer.com rating: 3

Intro: On tap at Mikkeller & Friends (Stefansgade), Copenhagen, into a Mikkeller tasting glass.
Appearance: It was a dark brown colour with a one finger tanned head that had great retention and lacing.
Aroma: Wonderful coffee bean, chocolate, mocha and a touch of vanilla.
Taste: Surprisingly disappointing considering the great aroma. An un-complex mish mash with a bit of coffee here and a bit of chocolate there.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with very light carbonation.
Overall: I guess this just wasn’t my thing. I easily preferred Everett over Shirley Mae.

5 - Excellent (must buy), Beer Reviews, Hong Kong, Moonzen Brewery, Porter - Imperial

Moonzen Yama Sichuan Porter

Saturday, 16 April 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Moonzen Brewery
Country: Hong Kong
ABV: 8%
Style: American Imperial Porter
Other Notes: Brewed with Sichuan peppercorns

Brewer Description: (from bottle) This beast of a porter, with wafts of smoked caramel malts and Sichuan peppercorns, will set your senses on fire as you await King Yama’s judgement. Pairs well with Sichuan dishes like 擔擔麵 or 棒棒雞.

My rating: 5
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.48
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.4

Intro: A 330ml bottle, bottle numbered 172, with a best before date of 1st June 2016. Poured into a Moonzen teku glass.
Appearance: It poured a dark dark brown colour with a one finger beige head that dissipated quickly, but left some light lacing.
Aroma: Roasted malts, crushed Sichuan peppercorn, ginger, sweet brown sugar and light caramel.
Taste: Dark roast malts, Sichuan peppercorns, light smoke char, black coffee, chocolate, caramel and a light lasting spicy tinge on the tongue.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with low carbonation.
Overall: A very good Porter especially if you like spicy Sichuan peppercorns. The peppercorns really come out in the aroma and taste of this beer and mix well the roasty malts, coffee and chocolate flavours. The spiciness is there and lasts but is not overpowering. I would definitely buy this again. I also think aging this would be very interesting.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Australia, Beer Reviews, Mountain Goat Beer Pty. Ltd., Porter

Mountain Goat Cross Breed Seedy Goat Coffee Porter

Friday, 29 January 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Mountain Goat Beer Pty. Ltd.
Country: Australia
ABV: 6.2%
Style: American Porter
Other Notes: Crossbred Goats are LIMITED EDITION releases brewed in collaboration with like-minded folk from Australia and around the world.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Ale, Vienna, Crystal, Chocolate and Roasted Wheat malt are mashed to produce a rich, smooth chocolatey palate – a perfect pairing to the coffee. This coffee is from the El Desarrollo farmers’ group in Huila, Colombia. It’s sourced from 82 small growers who work to produce super premium micro-lots. It displays brown sugar and orange character.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.56
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.4

Intro: A 640ml bottle with a best before date of 13th July 2016. Poured into a Duvel tulip glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear dark brown with a reddish hue and a one finger beige head that dissipated quickly without leaving much lacing.
Aroma: Roasted black coffee dominates with some nuttiness and malts.
Taste: Creamy/milky coffee with notes of brown sugar and vanilla.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied but maybe slightly overcarbonated for this style.
Overall: This was a decent beer with nice aromas. However it was a little too creamy/milky for my liking and the body definitely on the light side.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Deschutes Brewery, Porter, USA

Deschutes Black Butte Porter

Tuesday, 21 April 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 5.2%
Style: Porter
Other Notes:30 IBUs, 192 calories

Brewer Description: (from website) With a dark beer as our first and flagship brand, Black Butte defined Deschutes as a radical player. A slight hop bitterness up front enhances the distinctive chocolate and roasted finish. It’s prized for its creamy mouthfeel and intense complex flavors.

(from bottle) An opening volley, this pioneering dark ale signaled Deschutes’ renegade intentions. Its creamy mouthfeel, complex layers, hop edge and chocolate finish personify passion-forward brewing.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.07
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: This 12oz bottle was dated best by 3rd July 2015 and was poured into a pint glass.
Appearance: It poured a really dark brown with a half finger tan head that dissipates quickly leaving a generous amount of lacing.
Aroma: Smelled lightly of espresso coffee with some chocolate and maybe a bit of dark fruits like prunes. Would have preferred a stronger smell.
Taste: Immediate taste of dark bitter chocolate with roasty malts and a slight herbal bitter ending.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, medium carbonation and somewhat creamy.
Overall: This was a nice porter that I would buy again… if only it were that easy in Hong Kong.

words of another dreamy traveller