9-Grain Porter
Partizan Brewery

 

A 330ml bottle with a BB of Feb 2014. Picked up a little while back from Trembling Madness in York. I'm wondering if a 9-grain brew is actually overkill....

Poured into a Duvel tulip. Bottle conditioned. A very dark brown hue that appears black as night in the glass. Produces a large head of creamy beige foam that lasts for a few minutes before settling as a patchy surface layer. Aroma of intense roasted malt with notes of burnt grain, rich coffee, molasses, faint chocolate, subtle stewed hops and earthy yeast. A powerful hit of malt - delicious.

Tastes of roasted malt with a forceful character and a deeply bitter finish. Notes of burnt grain, roasted coffee beans, molasses, mild dried fruit, faint chocolate, stewed hops and earthy yeast. Well-attenuated. Rich and malty, with a strident bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth, dry and tingly but lacking in carbonation. Body is OK, however it could be chewier. Somewhat astringent, with an aftertaste of bitter roasted malt, coffee and mild yeast.

Nice and nicely done - a porter with tons of flavour. Looks the part, with a big aroma of roasted malt and coffee. The taste is slightly more subdued yet still a cut above the average porter. Body could use some work - undercarbonated and a bit watery. With so much dark malt in this brew I'm not convinced that the 9 grains come across, but ultimately it doesn't matter when the character is this luxurious. Very tasty and goes down a treat. Worth sampling if you come across it.

Poured from a 330ml bottle into a Fullers pint glass. Bottled 26th Feb '13.

Pours a black colour with a small tan head.

Smells sweet and roasty.

Tastes of sweet, roasted malts, with a hint of burnt and bitter malts. Medium texture.

Overall a really nice beer, solid but nothing outstanding though.