03|03 Porter (Traditional)
Brew By Numbers

4.1/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

33 cl bottle. Pitch black pour wit a medium height, fine-grained beige head. Roasted malts and dark chocolate, followed by some bitter cherries. Medium bodied and with a bitter cocoa aftertaste.

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4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Jet black with sepia froth that laces. 4
Boysenberry, char, and burnt rubber nose. 4
Cocoa nibs, some charcoal, brownie, humus, walnuts, but not much hops to end. 4
Chocolate liqueur finish and sweet linger.
Just past medium, round, oily. 4

Labeled at 7%. Based on historical recipes, seize the label.

Layered and balanced. There's definitely a "brown" English thing going on - bits of nuts and earth. Others claim a retronasal green pepper thing, which I can see. Bitterness is judicious. Among BBNo's best. 4

*from notes

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4.34/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Not much of a head.
S: Rummy and chocolatey. Very nice. Some grass as well.
T: Repeats the nose including the grass. It's quite bitter but has some sweetness as well. Actually it's toasty bitter. Loving the grassiness. Last few gulps are slightly phenolic, like a pleasant fruity medicinal flavour.
O: I really enjoyed this one. Just wish it wasn't so god damned bitter.

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3.64/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Tried on-tap at the Brew By Numbers brewery on the Bermondsey Beer Mile.

Pours an opaque black colour, with a hint of colour at the edges. Body is very decent, with very fine carbonation. Head is a pale mocha colour, forming a foamy, firm and persistent crest. Lace forms in specks and gargoyles. Looks good.

Nose is toasty with a slight creaminess. Hint of spice, mint and anise perhaps with a dollop of vanilla ice cream on the top. It's a bit light in weight, but overall, it's pretty good.

Light entry on the palate, smooth and a little thin. Light cacao comes through and some spice notes. Rubbery chocolate. The finish leaves little behind. It's smooth but weak—almost feeling watery by the time it reaches the back. This means it cleans out nicely at least, but it could really afford to be bigger. Feel is fairly smooth throughout, with a rubbery texture again.

Pretty easy to drink despite being 6.5% ABV. There's plenty to enjoy in this. I think it was just a bit underwhelming after trying their exquisite 05|01 IPA.

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