Half Moon Porter
Cape May Brewing Company

Very foamy pours emptied, with patience, two twelve ounce cans entirely into a clear glass liter mug. There are foamy pours because barley malt has been shortchanged and/or because there's just some exuberantly overly carbonated brews. Another reason can be because the pour was at room temperature and there's plenty of solids within the brew. Here's hoping for the later. The liquid is almost black coffee brown and it carries a tan head, after the foam subsided. As advertised, at least for the nose, there's plenty of roasted barley, chocolate and vanilla. OK, maybe there's a hint of alcohol there, too, but it's not bothersome. The first impression drinking it is that for an Imperial Porter, it's rich and smooth. Also, it's very flavorful, both the chocolate and vanilla characteristics stand up to the barley, hops and alcohol. Yes, there's more alcohol to taste and perhaps to keep it from an ideal IP, but most of all, it warms the esophagus, without detracting from the taste and mouthfeel. It's potent and sweet enough to make it a pleasant dessert beer, but it's balanced and light enough, despite its smooth and rich mouthfeel, to drink as it were an ordinary Porter. Overall, this is s very good flavor enhanced Imperial Porter.