No. 8
Flying Mouse Brewery

 

 

 

 

 

Poured a black body with bits of head and lace down glass. Aroma is mostly mild, roasted malts with hints of bitter chocolate and possible caramel/toffee notes. Mild bodied and smooth, easy drinking porter, just not much going on in this beer as the sweetness, mostly chocolate, is barely there and it mixes with a mildly roasted malt presence. I wouldn't say this beer is bas as much as bland or "meh"; there really isn't a lot going on at all and it's more of a mild ale than a porter (and not a good mild ale).

Poured from a can into a shaker pint, the beer is a dark, brown to black coloring, with a thin, low profile, tan colored head. Aromas of rich chocolate and cream forward, with nutty and mocha highlights. Sweet and inviting. Flavors are rich and sweet forward, as well, with cream and chocolate notes highlighted by roasted characteristics, hints of smoke, a bitter roasted coffee backbone, and some earthy tones. Smooth, light, and dry in mouth, with more of a bitter roasted coffee and mocha aftertaste. The finish is dry and clean, with a solid bitter linger. Solid porter.

 

12oz can poured into a snifter

A- pours pitch black in color with a thick and creamy khaki colored head that retains long after the pour

S- smoky roasted malt, hints of chocolate and coffee

T- smoky roasted base brings notes of chocolate, char, cereal grains, slightly tangy finish with a longer if smoky malt

M- medium-light body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel and finish

O- easy drinking Porter with a nice smoky malt flavor throughout

 

Look: Dark brown and opaque, with a lofty tan head- lots of foam for a porter. Wet, clingy splotches of lacing on sides of glass.
Smell: Cocoa nibs, and a hint of dark fruit when this beer isn't too chilled.
Taste: Obediently follows the nose with malty chocolate foremost. Bittersweet cocoa, and a small amount of coffee flavor to balance things out. Very easygoing and approachable. Similar to New Belgium's Portage.
Feel: Thick and glossy. No alcohol noticed. At 5.3%, this porter isn't out to get you. It's got a local, casual vibe to it.
Overall: A happy find from this small brewery. Colors within the lines of its "porter foundation" description. Good alternative to the coffee and alcohol bombs we've been seeing so much of. I'll definitely add this to my dark ale stable.