8.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Pours black with a hint of rosy brown refracting through the base of the glass. The head is a creamy mass of uneven tan bubbles. Lots of lacing. The aroma is black coffee, milk chocolate, roast and herbal/citric hops. The chocolate and coffee notes are dominant, and it reminds me of a good mocha more than anything. It tastes surprisingly sweet, which works nicely with the coffee and chocolate malt flavor. Hop bitterness quickly reins things in, and the finish is all bitter citrus and roast. Mouthfeel is creamier and chewier than I’d normally expect from an 8% abv beer.
Tried
on 10 Mar 2011
at 23:35
7.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 9
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Massive grapefruit aroma. Hazy orange, copper with a full white head. Starts off slightly watery, but continues with medium-full warming mouthfeel. Malt holds up nicely for this hop bomb. Citrus and grapefruit. Bitterness throughout.
Tried
on 21 Feb 2011
at 20:27
7.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Beautiful floral nose jumps out of the glass. Copper with a long lingering white head. Very bitter with the floral hops also present. Malt doesn’t show too much, leaving a slightly unbalanced beer.
Tried
on 21 Feb 2011
at 20:24
6.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 7
On tap at Beachwood BBQ. Pours with a deep brown body with a lasting tan head. Aroma is very strong of chocolate with nibs, a berry/fruitiness, and some earthy notes. Flavors are strong of hazelnut with peanut shells (and the associated salt), roast, chocolate earth and fudge. Lively bubbles but a bit thin. Pretty tasty.
Tried
from Draft
on 12 Feb 2011
at 19:09
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Notes combined from a fermenter sample a week ago and from my growler I picked up yesterday. Nose is very roasty, with coffee and chocolate. Cloudy very dark brown with a big tan head. Flavor is coffee up front, with chcolate and caramel in the background. Very nice porter and much less ABV than my favorite KR Class V Stout.
Tried
from Growler
on 31 Jan 2011
at 19:22
8.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 10
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8
Tap at Churchill’s in San Marcos. This one actually lives up to its name, with a great Christmas tree aroma and very balanced flavor.
Tried
from Draft
on 17 Jan 2011
at 11:15
8.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8.5
Flavor 9
Texture 9
Overall 9
Sample at the brewpub. The beer is a slightly hazed amber-orange color with a medium white head that recedes steadily. Rings of lacing on the glass. Aroma of citrus, grassy hops and malt. Medium body with a moderately bitter hops character that has notes of grapefruit and spruce. The finish is hoppy with a citrusy aftertaste. Pretty solid overall.
Tried
from Draft
at
Kern River Brewing Company
on 13 Jan 2011
at 18:54
6.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Sample at the brewpub. Pours a clear mahogany color with a medium light beige head that burns away steadily. Stringy lacing. Sweet spices and malt in the nose. Medium body with flavors of caramel malt, grapefruit and spice. The finish is malty with a short spiced aftertaste. Decent overall.
Tried
on 13 Jan 2011
at 18:53
7.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Sample at the brewpub. This beer pours a clear luminescent gold color with a medium thin white head that diminishes steadily. Thin rings of lacing. Vinous aroma with notes of tart apple and oak. Medium body with flavors of white grapes, oak and a hint of sweet malt. The finish is oaky with a white wine aftertaste. Pretty good all around.
Tried
on 13 Jan 2011
at 18:26
7.2/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 8
Sample at the brewpub. Pours opaque brownish-black with a medium tan head that dissipates steadily. Partial sheet of lacing on the glass. Aroma of roasted malt, chocolate and grain. Medium, dry body with flavors of malt, espresso, chocolate and hops. The finish is roasty with a coffee aftertaste. Above average overall.
Tried
on 13 Jan 2011
at 18:24