Port Van Porter
Pizza Port Solana Beach

 

Draught at the brewpub on July 2, 2009. Looked and felt like nitro, but I didn't get it so I can't be sure. Black color with a big, creamy light beige head. Somewhat muted roasted grain and light chocolate aroma. Roasty and coffee flavors, but pretty sweet with lower bitterness. Medium bodied with smooth, lower carbonation. The sweetness doesn't show in the mouthfeel. Like liquid chocolate beer but not at all heavy.

From the nitro-tap at Carlsbad
Poured a cascading deep brown with lots of nitrogen forcing the light brown head to the top as it settles. Once it finally calmed down it had a smooth 1/2 inch thick head. Nose was chocolate malt, coffee, and creamy. Taste was a smooth creaminess offered up from the nitro and some cocoa, espresso and hint of roasted malt. mouthfeel was good and creamy with a 5.6ABV leaving it very drinkable. I am not a fan of beers on nitro but this was one pretty good.

Nitro tap at the Solana Beach location

Dark brown, light tan head, nitrogen bubbles, medium carbonation

Smells of roasted grain, subtle chocolate, a little hops there too.

Nice earthy/chalky taste, chocolate, roasted grain, some bitter hops at the end, robust

Creamy mouthfeel, the nitrogen helps here in a good way

Overall, this is another good Pizza Port beer, reminds a lot of a stout though it is a porter, reminscent of Guiness, but of course different. Its got that signature Pizza Port flavor.

Late May 2006- On tap at Pizza Port in Solana Beach, CA.

Presentation- via the tap into two sets of samplers.

Appearance- A hazy black pour with a 1/4 inch creamy off white head. Small chunks of lace to go along for presentation.

Smell- Very dark and very roasted...to go along with a dash of smoke.

Taste- Very smooth, one of the darker tasting porters I have tasted. Very light hop notes, tastes more smoky than it smells. Deep malt carries the bill.

Mouthfeel- Very creamy and very smooth with a mid-range carbonation.

Drinkability- Very nice porter. They ran out after my pours, otherwise I may have gone back and gotten a pint.

On tap at PizzaPort Solana Beach. Consumer along with a BBQ bacon cheeseburger pizza on a whole grain crust...

This black ale was served on nitrogen I believe. Head was tan and minimal. Faint wisp of burnt bagel. This brew is a light bodied creation, slightly thin. Very little hop bitterness. Instead, from the depths of the darkness, black patent rises to a modest roar and plateau. Very burnt, and it wafts around your mouth. Somehow it doesn't get out of control, and you get to savor the burnt flavor without getting hurt.

Overall: nice porter with big burnt oomph

This beer pours a dark mahogany. Red highlights are apperant when held up to light. The head is beige and never seems to fade. It stays about an inch thick in the glass. The head leaves thick laces on the glass. It smells slightly malty with hints of chocolate and caramel. It tastes very creamy and on tap, it is nitrogen infused which adds to the creamy taste. There are strong hints of coffee and chocolate in the taste. It has a relatively low hop taste to it. The malt flavor is dominant. It is a very smooth beer with a perfect amount of carbonation. This beer is a great session beer, and accents pizza very well. The low alcohol content makes for a beer you can drink all night. The flavor never gets old.