5Beans - Port Barrel-Aged
Sixpoint Brewery

 

 

Poured on tap black with a thin mocha colored head which clings to the rim and leaves spots of lace. Aroma is some spices from the port barrel along with roasted malts and faint cherry. Flavor is cedar wood spice possibly from the combination of cherry and port barrel aging, faint vanilla, and tobacco. Full body with light carbonation. Finishes a little thin.

 

Pours dark brown, with mahogany and ruby around the edges when backlit. Tons of head that lasts and lasts, slowly receding to a rim around the edge as I drink it. Lacing isn't prominent, but I feel like that's appropriate with it being wine barrel-aged.

The port is very noticeable up front, with a slight sweetness to it. Oak from the barrel comes with warmth, as does an ever-so-slight vanilla that briefly runs across the stage.

The malt aspect of it isn't forward, playing a supporting role to what the port barrel brings. I thoroughly enjoy port on its own, so I find this to be great. I love the nuance in the interplay between the barrel-imparted aspects and the base porter. Other port barrel-aged beers I've had usually miss having balance between the two, but the two play very well together in this 5Beans. With warmth, the roasted malt notes come forward a little bit, providing greater depth to the drinking experience. I am very tempted to try this directly from room temperature some day as I think this beer gets better with warmth. ETA: Over time, the port barrel character mellows a bit, making the beer even more rounded.

A silky medium body, well carbonated, and finishes nicely dry. Very easy to drink for 9.45% ABV.

To me, it's a perfect beer to have with a meal. It's not overpowering in what it is, and it doesn't try to demand all of your attention. This beer knows its place in the gastronomical pantheon, happy to be enjoyed on its own for a port-forward experience, or eager to be paired with a spatchcocked chicken and creamy mashed potatoes. It would pair wonderfully with duck breast, as the port flavors and dryness would cut straight through the duck fat. I think you could make a delicious reduction that you simmer the duck breast in after scorching the fat.

 

This beer pours and stays dark black. Thick brown head leaves longing lacing across the glass.

Smell is a little tangy, and if you didn't know the ingredients maybe a little off-putting but there are perfect reasons for the smell.

Taste is banging. Sweet, but not a port bomb. Coffee is still present and accounted for. Lovely.

Feel is an awkward category. It feels like it should. A beer, aged in port barrels with coffee.... Hits the right notes.

Overall this is a beer that I am so happy to have had the chance to drink and review. An absolute hit by Sixpoint.

 

 

12 oz. canned on 11/16/17

Pours dark brown black with a creamy frothy tan foam head. Smells like grapes, apple, pear, wine, mild oak, cherries, rich chocolate, vanilla, caramel, molasses, brown sugar, poppy seed, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Tastes like wine, some grape, apple, pear, mild oak, fresh sweet and tart cherries, rich luscious chocolate, vanilla, caramel, molasses, brown sugar, poppy seed, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Feels medium-light bodied, silky smooth with moderate low carbonation. Overall a really nice and interesting Port barrel aged Baltic porter.