Pal's Porter
The Lucky Monk

 

 

16 oz tap pour into a nonic at Lucky Monk in South Barrington, IL. 6% ABV.

Consumed after sweemzander's wedding while waiting to head back to his place for more brew. :P

A - Dark black in color with a dense dark tan head. Great retention and thick lace coats the glass. Great looking porter!

S - Fresh brewed coffee and roasted malts with a strong cocoa finish. A touch of alcohol and wood in the nose.

T - Heavily roasted chocolate malt with a roasted coffee flavor that's very pronounced but smooth.

M - Medium-full in body and smooth with a great roasted finish.

D - This beer has awesome drinkability for a porter. Very good flavor. One of my favorites from Lucky Monk I'd say.

Had this on tap while enjoying dinner at The Lucky Monk. Served in a oversized pint glass.

A: Pitch black color. The pour was to the top of the glass so the head was minimal. Just a trace of mocha hued head not much lace.

S: Full on roasted black coffee. A hint of cocoa but all dark roast malt all day.

T: Again mostly black coffee and hints of dark chocolate. Typical bitterness. Not much else going on here.

M: Medium body with light carbonation.

D: Overall a very nice coffee forward porter.

Served in a nonic pint on tap at The Lucky Monk

This one looks amazing for a porter it's black as night with a nice half finger of brown foam. The aroma doesn't really smell like much. If I get any aromas at all it's of a sweet coffee smell, but that's it. The taste is of lots of coffee, dark roasted coffee. There is a lot of char taste in this coffee, but it works really well. The weird flavor comes from the Belgian yeast which seems to be in every beer. There's a bit of floral sweetness to go with the smooth char coffee flavor. The mouthfeel is pretty good, it's really the viscosity that you should expect from a porter. It's really not all that bitter when you consider how much coffee flavor there actually is. It's quite drinkable and enjoyable. The consensus overall best beer they have to offer.

Served in a nonic pint glass at the brewpub.

Gotta say, this was the highlight of the evening. It pours a solid black-brown topped by a finger of rich tan foam. The nose comprises blackened pretzels, coffee, and a heap o' roasted malts. The taste holds notes of blackened biscuits, coffee, another heavy amount of roasted malts, and a smidge o' smoke in the back. The body is medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a kinda dry, almost sticky feel (as I said in a different review, this made sense when I noted it down). Overall, a very nice stout, just short of great but tasty and rather drinkable anyway.

Served in a pint glass at The Lucky Monk 12/26/09. Specialk thanks to HeatherAnn for the assist!

A: Served a pitch black with a dark mocha colored head. Features a thick skim and no lace.

S: Awesome heavily roasty aroma. Blackened malt, coffee, bakers chocolate, etc...

T: See above with a hint of dark fruit and cherry thrown in for good measure.

M: Starts thin but thickens considerably as it warms. Very sticky and clingy.

D: What an excellent porter! Actually refreshes as it sticks to the ribs!

This is a seasonal beer according to the chalkboard at the brewpub. Review from written notes.

Black and impenetrable by light. Some tan foam at first that rekindles in a feeble way when swirled.

Aromas of graphite, roasty coffee, and bakers chocolate.

Dry and roasty, firmly bitter, notes of charred black malt and dark chocolate. Light bodied with even carbonation, true to the English Porter style. Recommended for the stout/porter fan.