Bob's 15B Porter
New Albanian Brewing Company - Pizzeria and Public House

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Received a pint glass poured from a tap. The beer was almost black with a minimal tan head. Average lacing followed. The aroma was rich with roasted malt giving hints of coffee and dark chocolate.
The flavor was much the same as the aroma with the appearance of deep chocolate malt and roast flavors.
The mouthfeel was good, but I would like just a bit more carbonation.
Overall, I was very pleased with this brew. I enjoyed it in the historical setting of Tomlinson Tap at the City Market in Indianapolis.

On tap at the brewpub.

Lovely appearance: completely opaque black-brown body under a thick one-finger tan-yellow head that leaves ample drink rings to the bottom of the glass.

Smell is of cherries, cocoa, dried fruits. Mmmm. Smells nice.

Taste is like the smell with the ample addition of dark-roasted coffee, burned sugar and sweet cherries.

Mouthfeel is a little thinner than expected.

Very drinkable: smooth, easy, great taste. Sessionable, and complex enough to keep you interested.

20 oz pour to pint glass. Dark chocolate color. Nice lite brown head. Smelled of hints of caramel and toasted nuts. Nice robust mouth and initial smoky caramel taste. Ended a little more bitter. Still a more malty overall taste. A very nice lighter style of porter.

The local homebrew club FOSSILS (Fermenters of Special Southern Indiana Libations) held a porter contest a couple of years back. Longtime homebrew extraordinaire Bob Capshew (I hope I spelled your name right Bob) won that contest with version 15B of his porter recipe. Michel Borchers (brewer at NABC/Rich O's) used the same recipe to brew a batch for sale at Rich O's and history was made. It was so popular that they've continued to brew it ever since. As well they should. It's a damn good porter.

Beer arrived a typical very dark porter black with generous 1 inch head of dense creamy foam that left heavy lacing.

Smell was quite nice, with strong toffee and carmel notes with a hint of chocolate and coffee.

Taste was also very very good. I'm not sure when I've ever drunk a porter this fast, but it tasted just too darn good. Load of flavor to delight the palate, with sweet malt and carmel noticably present.

Full bodied but not too much so. Low carbonation to get in the way of the flavor.

Just excellent all around.