Maple Porter
Climbing Bines Hop Farm

my very first beer from these guys, seems like little breweries have sprung up all through the finger lakes region, which is awesome. this porter is quite good, definitely on the robust side as the base beer goes, with a little higher abv, super deep and roasty and bitter malt base, that black, unmalted roasted barley in the mix too, dark chocolate and burnt coffee abound, a nice backdrop for the maple, which is subtle in both aroma and flavor, but not absent. the beer is super dark, shiny, and with a medium brown head that froths up thick and rises over the rim of the glass from the tap, real sleek and appealing looking. i get a trace of smoke with all the roast in the nose, and just a little of the sweet maple in the mix, some brown sugar too, and its got a nice wintery richness, faint cinnamon maybe too. the flavor is excellent, porter first with both some real dark grain and a little bready yeast complexion, and the maple second, just softening the roast with some sweetness and adding a nice mid palate maple taste, but its mellow and this beer is never breakfasty or sugary at all. a hint of pipe tobacco in the mix too. lots of body, some burnt character lingering after each sip, but never too intense or harsh. i like porter on the deep end like this, and i think the maple proportion is tasteful and its very natural. a rather professionally made beer, i hope try more of their stuff next time i am out this way! this is ideal for winter.