Drayman's Porter
Berkshire Brewing Company Inc.

 

 

Color on the pour is a translucent light brown that reminded me of pouring a Coke. In the glass, it's a dark brown with some light getting through. Relatively minimal beige colored head that receded to a thin yet persistent cap. Aroma is relatively nondescript, with some light roasted malts and underlying notes of pumpernickel.

Taste largely follows the nose, with light roast, moderate bitterness and a dry finish. Fairly light and easy drinking. Overall while this doesn't jump out in any particular way, sometimes it's nice to just drink a simple, no frills beer. I'd gladly try again.

Thanks to Roy_Hobbs for this one, from his first NBS BIF #15 blast. 16oz can (no date) poured into 16oz tulip. Poured a nearly solid black color, some reddish-brown tint on the edges, with an inch-and-a-half of brown head that had very good retention and good lacing.

The aroma was fairly typical for the style; solid base grains, some light hops, a touch of roast, and maybe a hint of chocolate.

Fairly similar on the tongue, with the roast being notably more prominent.

The body was also what was expected, maybe just a touch thinner than usual, was smooth, and had a semi-sweet finish.

Drinkability was good, a nice easy quaffer.

Overall, a solid, enjoyable brew. Would probably be in rotation if local to me.

great price at Hanover Coop at Christmas, enjoyed with Salmon dinner.
a) Per spec, a little lace over a coffee black body, firm head, low carb.
s) chocolate, mocha and hop.
t) Adds some char, wood smoke and more smokey drying hop finish.
f) Right weighted low carb, a tad sweet.
o) Done right NE Porter.

Canned

Berkshire is usually a good representation of classic styles, so I'm excited to see how they do with a classic, no-frills, American Porter. I had forgotten about this can in my fridge for a few months now, and I'm happy that I found it when I did, it's pretty old and it's exactly what I'm in the mood for tonight. Let's get into it

Pours a very dark brown with 2 fingers of dark tan head that slowly fades to a cap and leaves decent lacing

I love the yeast expression in my Porters to be a least a bit fruity, and this one does exactly the job. I'm picking up on aromas of red grape, plum, light roast coffee, dark bread, milk chocolate, and caramel malt

It loses a bit of that nice fruitiness in taste, but that is likely from the age of the can. On the front end of the sip I'm tasting dark bread, toffee, lightly acidic coffee, raisin, and light caramel. The swallow brings notes of red grape, bready malt, dark toast, toffee, earthy hops, and milk chocolate

A medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a smooth beer. Finishes lightly sticky with a nice balance

As I do with beers that are a bit on the older side, I'll give this one the benefit of the doubt overall. It was very good, and I'd love to try it again fresh

Drayman’s Porter from Berkshire Brewing. Received from @Roy_Hobbs in BIF #14. 12 oz can. Stored at home at 38 degrees. Reviewed 30/10/21. Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Stamped on can bottom “BORN ON 07/14/21”. Served at 49.2 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. Final temperature 55.7 degrees.
Appearance – 4.
First pour – Medium Amber (SRM 12), nearly opaque.
Body – Ruby Brown (SRM 24), opaque. When rear-lite, translucent ruby.
Head – Large (Maximum five cm, aggressive center pour), wheat, short retention, diminishing to a three to six mm undulating crown and a thin partial cap. Second pour produces a 1.2 cm cap.
Lacing – Fair. Band of tiny to small bubbles
Aroma – 4 – Initially toasted malt, slightly sweet, and weak dark chocolate and coffee, no hops, no yeast.
Flavor – 4 – Taste follows the nose but slightly bitter, no hops, no yeast. No ethanol (6.2 % ABV, NOT marked on container but from website) taste or aroma. Moderate gastric warming and transitory esophageal burning. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl.
Palate – 3.5 – Medium, watery, soft but lively carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 3.75 Overall, the taste is weaker than the nose, but the mild coffee bitterness has a long hangtime. Very sessionable.

 

 

 

 

22oz bottle from IMN0P

Poured a dark chocolate color with a 4F head in a Stone imperial pint glass.
Aroma: chocolate, coffee, roasted malt.
Light body, but not thin.
Excellent deep chocolate, coffee, malty taste with a moderate hoppy finish.
One of the better American Porters.

Bottle. Nice flavor, malty and dark. Great finish. Slightly spicy. Medium body.

Pours a reddish brow nice ruby highlights when held to the light. Nice fluffy two finger light tan headthat falls slow and laces well.

Aroma is toasted malts, light coffee notes, toffee hints and weak chocolate notes and dark fruit hints. More like an old fashioned porter then the newer almost stout like ones some put out.

Taste is the nose toasted malts, toffee with lighter coffee and chocolate along with the dark fruit hints. Really smells and drinks like an old fashioned English Porter then an more normal darker American style. It's favorable and easy drinking and for me enjoyable a little different then I have been use to lately.

Mouthfeel is lighter side of medium with carbonation that might be a touch too much for my tastes but far from fizzy.

Overall I am enjoying this even though it's not quite what I was expecting.

 

 

 

 

Substantial beige head on the initial pour. Excellent lace coming in the form of webs and 3D spots. The color is deep ruby brown, but light passes easily through the center of the glass.

Semisweet chocolate nose. It's a bit like dark bread. I detect a bit of yeast, smoke and cream.

The flavor is dark and chocolatey. There's a touch of smoke like the smell. The body is thin but the carbonation is also muted. The finish is more malty and dry than the start. There's a touch of bitterness in the aftertaste along with the smoky chocolate.