Takau Porter
Takau Brewery

Brought from my motherland Taiwan by a friend. “Takau” (meaning “hitting a dog”) actually is a local Taiwanese slang word for “Kaohsiung”, a city in Southern Taiwan where this newly founded micro-brewery is based. Coming in a 350ml can, unfiltered. Canned date 31/08/2006, “best enjoyed within 60 days”. Served cool in a jug.

A: very dark mahogany hue, nearly black; the foamy tan beer head comes thick yet fluffy in texture, gradually settling to a thin cap with a huge hissing sound, while the carbonation remains lively throughout the drink.
S: smoothly sweet dark chocolate-milk mixed very well American flowery hops, a peachy note and bits of roasted walnuts. Medium-bodied, harmonious, not too complex. Alas, the aroma doesn't hold too long.
T: thin-textured bitter black malts and slightly sour roasted malts upfront, with a tinge of treacles, chocolate fudge and roast nuts closely behind; the pale malts lend a lighter edge to the roastiness, as do ripe black plums impart a subtly sour fruitiness to balance the moderate malts... dryish+bitter licorice and hops quietly develop towards the medium-length finish.
M&D: it feels slightly thin on the palate and the fluffy fizziness is not optimum. Overall this porter is slightly off-balance, with a sour fruity tinge as a balancer like a porter should have, but lacks a sound weight of maltiness to make a delicious porter. But for the first porter brewed in Taiwan, this is not a bad start!