Chocolate Lab Porter
Big Dog's Draft House

I had this on tap at the draft house in Las Vegas, NV. This was my favorite of their beers that I tried - it had a very unique and strong flavor. It poured out a deep dark black-brown with a thin but long-lasting head and lots of lacing. It had a very strong smoke aroma and tasted a lot like charcoal/barbeque. The roast was unique - it is hard to describe - not like chocolate or coffee, but just simply that smell and taste of barbeque smoke, but liquified. I liked it. Try it if you're a fan of stouts and porters. The others I was with weren't as impressed, but they're more hopheads anyway.

Beautiful dark brown body, topped by a quickly dissolving tan head which settled into an oil slick.

Roasty nose, attractive if not overly powerful.

Lovely chocolate taste, with plenty of coffee mixed in. Earthy hop bite in the finish.

Good mouthfeel, with a touch of oil. Great drinkability.

Good stuff. Try it if you have the chance.

Clear deep dark brown in color. 1" tan head. No lacing develops. Carbonation levels were low. The aroma was of roasted malt, chocolate, and a hint of coffee. The flavor followed the nose with roasted malt, chocolate, caramel, and touch of coffee. Mild bitterness.

Medium bodied. Mouthfeel is smooth, and the aftertaste is short with some chocolate lingering on the tongue. Drinkability is down a bit as one of these was tasty, but did not leave me wanting another in this session. I did visit a few days later and enjoyed another one, and I felt the same after that - one's enough.

Sampled on tap at the Draft House (full pint).

This porter poured a clear, very dark brown color with brown foam that settled. The smell was malty with a little bit of cocoa. Not a very strong aroma. The taste was malty with flavors of chocolate malt, roasted malt, and a little yeastiness. The mouthfeel was smooth and dry overall with medium body and modest carbonation. There was a light, almost effervescent feeling on the tongue. There was a nice, malty aftertaste. This was a good, solid porter, though not over-the-top in any way.

Presentation: Sampled on draft at Big Dog’s Brewing Co./Draft House as part of a Sampler during a visit with fellow BA UncleJimbo.

Listed on the large wall sign that has the names of some 12 or so house brews as ‘Chocolate Labrador Porter’.

Appearance: Dark brown body with a dirty white head. Nice conditioning in this one supports the head and keeps the looks of this one.

Nose: Rather limited offering in the nose, milk chocolate with a dry malt odor. Some chocolate digestive traits in the back end. Mild bitter-yeast aromas.

Taste: Nice entrance with a building taste profile. Light toasted malts build into a dry milk chocolate middle. Hints of yeast and a light bitterness balance a sweeter malt feel. Finishes dry and chocolatey.

Mouthfeel: Had a thin start, but I’m really not sure if it’s the previous brews at this point or the beer itself. As it warmed it built in character, hot chocolate like feel at times in the swallow.

Drinkability: Average quaffability for a Porter, thinner than most but what it lacks in body it make up for with its dry chocolate body which is appealing.

Overall: One of the newer Big Dog brews, a tasty Porter but it does feel like it may need a little body. Tasty though.