Imperial Mocha Porter
Sun Up Brewing Co.

I first tried this beer while doing a series of brewer interviews in the days leading up to Arizona Beer Week. Uwe Boer, SunUp's jolly head brewer, took us on a tour of the cramped brewery space and poured a small sample of this elixir. Eyes widened; mouths turned up in subconscious smiles.

At the brewpub, this porter brewed with Costa Rican coffee beans roasted locally by Cartel Coffee Lab comes in a filled-to-the-brim snifter, black as night and clear as a coffee bean. Smelling it, you'd think you were inside a coffeehouse. Smooth espresso melds with cocoa powder and buttered toast.

Some spicy hops emerge in the flavor, adding hints of earth and pine. Dark chocolate and torched bread are bigger here, in almost equal quantity with the coffee beans. A hint of fruity blackberry tang right at the finish. Smooth as a latte.

Medium in body; mild in carbonation. The silky bubbles work well here, staying out of the way of the flavor.

Well-balanced yet obviously powerful. Smooth blend of flavors. Great use of coffee, but the beans still allow the underlying porter to shine through.