Black Abbey Potus 44

Style: Robust American Coffee Porter

abv: 5.5%

Nose: dark roasty, smells like coffee and the Cracker Barrel Gift Shop.

Overall Taste: Its like drinking a cold french press coffee. Very rich. The porter format for a coffee beer is a nice change from the Coffee Stout (which I love).

This coffee porter is made from Kenyan and Hawaiian coffee beans which I can only guess is a tribute to our current President (that and the name POTUS which we all know from Tom Clancy movies is secret service code name). When it occurred to me that the name of this beer was not some kind of ironic Latin nod to Martin Luther I was a little disappointed.  

There is not much not to like about this beer. I am a robust porter fan and I also like coffee in my beer. I drank most of this beer in the evening and discovered that it had a surprising amount of caffeine in it. I thought this was a plus but it could also throw someone off who is reaching for a night-cap.

Black Abbey says they want to specialize in Belgium-style beers but there is very little that is Belgian about this beer. If they used Belgian yeast in this beer it comes in faintly on the after-taste. Like most porters this beer should be drank quickly. Potus 44 does not improve as it warms like a stout. In fact, I might think this is true of most coffee beers.

This beer is draft-only. A Growler of Potus 44 would make a remarkable Christmas gift and could be enjoyed with pop-overs and french toast. A coffee porter could be the perfect pick-me-up after staying up late for candlelight/mass services. Last I checked this beer is still on tap at Craft Brewed Tasting Room on 8th by Melrose. They also have Stainless Steal Growlers for sale with a fill-up.

I look forward to Black Abbey's up and coming White Farmhouse IPA "Olympus Drained."  

--AS

 

Anchor Brewing "Old Foghorn"

I apologize Anchor Brewing. I drank your “Old Foghorn” Barleywine Ale before dinner even though the label said perfect for sipping after dinner.  I was too excited to try it and by the time I read that part I had already poured it in the glass.  Besides, given that my dinner was going to be frozen pizza I was concerned that my pallet would be as wrecked as San Francisco after the earthquake of 1906. 

               

As it is, I probably should have listened.  This would be a perfect ‘after dinner beer.’  It is delicious before but would make more sense after.  This beer is full of malty goodness like any good barleywine should be.  For a second, I had to take another sip and double check because, half way through, I found myself wondering if it was actually carbonated.  It is.  But it’s not something that you notice when you are sipping it.

What you do notice, is apples.  Not that there are any in this brew but I cannot help but notice a wonderful, thick apple flavor in this beverage.  It ends up being very sweet.  But this is where Anchor really impressed me.  Usually, when I associate sweetness with beers or ciders it is pleasant but there is this stickiness in the back of my throat that lingers that I almost feel like I should wash away.  It doesn’t exist here.  Even at the end of this beer the sweetness touches the tongue on the front end but dissipates cleanly, like it damn well should.  I’d rather not choke up syrupy flavor after I’m done with my sip.

This is a really special find.  I sometimes find myself stumbling for something appropriate to drink after a meal.  Usually this lands you somewhere in the liquor category.  I recently had an argument with someone over the age old question “if you could drink wine or beer the rest of your life…” They were dead set on wine and one of their points was the versatility of the beverage during all points of the meal including desert.  To which I say “You can have your port, I’ll have an Old Foghorn.”

--Matt Lowell

Oktoberfest at Home: a Home-Brewed Review

One of my regulars, Jon Smith, at the liquor store gave me a home brew to review.


Style: Oktoberfest

Abv: 6%

Nose: slight spice and sweetness like Bazooka Joe Bubble gum.

Pallet: slight smoked wheat, slight tart banana without being sour.

I generally do not reach for a wheat beer but most of my favorites have come from home-brewers. Jon's Oktoberfest is a refreshing alternative to the over saturated fall market. The spices are balanced by a dry over current and steady carbonation. The beer is unfiltered which gives it a rich taste and a charming home-brewed feel. The best part of this beer is the hints of banana which come across without being bready or too yeasty.

*Weakness: The color of the beer for some reason is off putting. The spices seem to concentrate in very back of the throat which was not present in the overall taste experience. I wonder if both of these issues could be fixed if the beer were filtered.

Overall I love home-brewed beer and this one was a real treat to review. I look forward to reviewing more home-brews and drinking more of Jon's beer.

--AS

*Jon asked that I be brutal. This can be hard in the same way that telling someone who has prepared a home-cooked meal for you that though the sauce is good the noodles are smooshy.