Carroll County Rye Porter
Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery

Impenetrable ebony with a miniscule glint of gold where glass met stem. An attractive cap of golden caramel colored foam looked good from presentation until disappearance, while leaving tattered veils of lace that never lost their cling.

One sniff was all it took to tell that CCRP would be good beer. It was an equal mixture of dark chocolate and rye whiskey, with an appealing tang and hints of burnt sugar. More power might have earned it the next highest score.

Carroll County (Iowa) is the location of the Templeton Rye Whiskey distillery. This 'black porter' was so named because it was aged for 8 months in barrels that had previously held that spirit. One sip was all it took to tell that this was good beer. Wait, that sounds familiar.

Like the aroma, the flavor profile was balanced, though the whiskey did seem to assert itself more and more with warming. Flavors included dark chocolate, caramelized sugar, vanilla, tangy fruit and oak. Honestly, I couldn't have told the difference if bourbon barrels had been used.

The beer was moderately bitter, minimally sweet, and developed a bit more depth in the bottom half. The mouthfeel, even when ABV was considered, fell a fraction short. It lacked creaminess, but was soft and smooth, with low end carbonation.

Carroll County Rye Porter is good beer that should please just about everyone who likes both American porter and American whiskey. Another fine creation from the estimable Mr. Sorensen. And what a gorgeous early autumn day this was to enjoy it on.