Prince's Porter
Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks

2017 iteration. Poured from a bomber into a Dogfish Head tulip

L: Nearly clear dark mahogany pour.. nearly black with 1.5 fingers of foamy white head. Nice sticky ring of lacing.

S: Bourbon, roast, and vanilla.

T.F: Roasted grains... bitter/tart... coffee grounds, char, and coconut. Light cocoa... more tart than expected. Some bourbon/vanilla but very mild. Not overly boozy. Medium bodied... sticky on the tongue.

O: A solid bourbon barrel porter, and the tartness is a nice touch... giving it more of a coconut bourbon feel. A fun beer and better than the usual from Elk Creek.

2017 bottle release. Sadly, this bottle had strong signs of infection: aroma has a tart earthy funk, and no bourbon or porter characteristics. Taste is dry yeast, lacto sourness, oak, zero bourbon / porter flavors. Honestly, it isn’t terrible or anything, just obviously not what the brewer intended.

 

 

 

 

Served on nitro-tap in a pint glass

Appearance – Served a deep black brew with a nice creamy one finger just off white head. The nitro driven head had a great retention, slowly fading over time to leave a great level of lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The aroma was a nice mix of roasted malt, chocolate, and a light vanilla. Along with these aromas are notes of bourbon and oak from the bourbon barrel aging rounding out the aroma quite nicely.

Taste – The taste begins with flavors of a drier roasted malt, coffee, and some flavors of cocoa. Some vanilla and a light caramel flavor soon come to the tongue, sweetening the brew ever so slightly in the middle. More toward the end of the taste a light oakiness comes to the tongue with the sweeter flavors of chocolate and vanilla fading more. While the oak comes to the tongue so too does a bourbon flavor, which in the end, when combined with the roasted malt, oak and light chocolate and vanilla flavors, leaves a drier, but nicely balanced roasty flavor to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – As with most nitro driven beers the body was creamy and smooth. The creamy and smooth body were fantastic for the darker roasted malt flavors and also allowed the lighter bourbon and vanilla flavors of the brew to linger and soak into the tongue; making for one fantastic feel.

Overall – While the Poe Paddy Porter is tasty, the bourbon barrel ageing enhances this one. The nice subtle bourbon and vanilla flavors with the drier roasted malt and chocolate flavors mixed with the creamy feel of the brew from the nitro pour made this beer a true joy to drink. If you can find this one on tap I say give it a go, as you will not be disappointed.

From Tim, the head brewer of Elk Creek: "Prince’s Porter: this is a version of our Poe Paddy that we aged in a bourbon barrel for 8 months. The barrel is from Heaven Hill Distillery in Kentucky. It named in recognition of Prince David Farrington. He was a major bootlegger who ran stills in this area throughout prohibition. Also a generous and colorful character by all accounts. I think the balance between the bourbon and porter is perfect. The bourbon doesn’t overwhelm but compliments. Nice vanilla and oak notes in the nose and on the tongue. This is built for hand pull dispense."

Served at the Z Bar at The Deli in State College. Menu said nitrogen poured, not hand pump.

A: Black pour with a nice light brown head. The creamy head forms wonderfully after the beer has been poured as I would expect from a nitro poured offering. 4.5

S: Vanilla bourbon, slight oak, the roastiness tries to provide balance, but falls a bit short. Some chocolate coming through, but no booze. 4

T: The taste is of bourbon and vanilla , mixed with slight chocolate and roastiness. The bourbon is too intrusive here. I needed something more to come out a bit stronger and balance it out. 3.5

MF: Too thin in body, creamy low carbonation. No hint of booze 2.5

O: Disappointed, needed more balance. Had trouble finishing the glass. 3