Thousand Year Porter
Water Street Brewing Co.

Pours dark mahogany with a chocolate colored head that hangs around.

Smells of coffee, chocolate, dark fruit plumb, currant and bitter herb.

Taste is a nice hit of bitter chocolate and coffee balanced by sweet malt with caramel and currant.

 

 

although this one may lack a real distinguishing element, i will say that it is a level better than the generic standard american porter from an upstart small brewery in the united states these days. this has a lot of body, some serious depth of field on the malt, and a striking bitterness that really helps the beer finish. shiny on the pour with an inch or so of off white head, it leaves some lace as it drinks, and is generally a very nice looking porter. black. there is a hint of coffee to this, some of that roasted but unmalted dark barley character, and less of the middle sweetness than we often see in the style. i found it to be a little filling, but thats just because i had already eaten and had been drinking beer all day, it is not a criticism of its mouthfeel, which is appreciably heavy in a good way, and big enough to stand up to winter. drier in the finish, bitter, with a lingering roasty property on the tongue. without being particularly complex, it was one of the better and more memorable beers i had here at water street.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A - Dark brown pour with a beige foram that retains well. Slight bubbly carbonation. Lacing rolls down the glass.

S - Smells of burnt malt and roasted coffee beans. Slight milk chocolate smell.Has some clear bitter notes.

T - Flavors of bitter coffee and roasted malt. I think this one would be better with some age on it. For me it was too heavy on the malt. As it warmed it mellowed a bit better.

M - Balance on this could stand to be adjusted a bit.

O - I prefer a bit more sweet notes in a porter. This seemed to be a tad too bitter for my liking.

A-Black, ruby brown around the edges, two finger tan head.

S-Roasted malt, good deal of coffee, some oak notes as well.

T-Nice toasted/roasted malt, tad burnt as well. Coffee and chocolate round it out.

M-Medium bodied, good deal of carbonation, smooth.

O-The best beer they had on tap when I went to the brewery, would easily have it again.