Imperial Maple Porter
Sanitas Brewing Company

i really dug this one. a shiny thick black porter thats really pretty flawlessly made even before the addition of one of my favorite ingredients in the world. its fluffy and heady and attractive in the glass. i love the glassware they use here too, squatty round globes with a real interesting shape, and they seem perfectly made for this beer. rings as it drinks, milkshake thick foam, yummy. it smells more like charred black malt than like maple syrup, there is a hint of sweetness to it all, but i smell the char and the carbon and the roast more than anything. the maple is in the flavor, and its cool because its all in the middle. sweet where some porters employ a caramel malt or toffee sort of sweetness, this is undeniably maple, and its wonderful. as always though, for my palate, i could use more maple. the beer isnt sweet, and i think a decent amount of the maple syrup is fermented out of it, but what remains is pure and delicious. its a great counterpoint to the bitter near burnt malt base, and it adds some body too. this thing is huge and smooth, and the alcohol is covered up well. it coats the palate and teeth, and never really finishes. easily my favorite beer i have had from these guys, and i was sad to hear they were pouring their last keg at the brewery this weekend. i hope they make it again soon, its fantastic!