Mocha Java Porter
Sugar Creek Brewing Company

Look: It pours dark brown with a tan head. Head retention is very good.

Smell: There are strong, rich coffee aromas up front. There are also some roasted elements in the background.

Taste: It has strong coffee flavors with the roast being a bit stronger in the flavor than in the smell. There is some light spicing in the background with a floral touch.

Feel: It has a medium body with strong bitterness in the finish. The bitterness is pleasant and not sharp.

Overall: It has great coffee flavors but is a little bit one dimensional.

I'm no expert but I keep thinking it's an adequate brown ale instead of a porter?

L: A beautiful dark beer, black, nice mocha head

S: You walk into a starbucks or a barnes and nobles and this is what it smells like, vanilla, coffee, creamy, dark bitter chocolate, hints of caramel

T: Great tasting beer hitting all the different notes that were expressed in the smell

F: Slightly underwhelmed with the body, would have liked something a little stronger/thicker

O: A great beer that is definitely worth trying. Wish I could get more!

 

 

 

 

22oz Bomber

Huge thanks, WIl! Sugar Creek's Mocha Java Porter is chestnut brown at the bottom of the bowtie glass but as the glass flares it's the darkest of browns bordering on black. A khaki, ultra creamy head forms on the pour that recedes rather quickly but around sticks a sturdy crown. Lazy, lounge-y drink lines are left gripping the surface after each tilt.

The nose has a nice balance to it, which is what I remember appreciating at the brewery.The coffee is first from the glass but it's matched shortly thereafter with moderately roasted barley. It brings with it a soft nuttiness, think hazelnut, and a dash of cream (sweetness) to compliment the coffee notes. There's even a soft herbal hoppiness to wrap it all up. Very nicely done.

Coffee kicks off the flavor as well but it's quickly outdone by a roastiness that falls just short of moderate. There's a malty sweetness mid-palate that consists of soft dark fruits, a dash of cream, and some of that hazelnut that I mentioned above. Coffee pops back up on the finish adding a touch of acidity that's extremely complimentary.Soft herbals linger on the swallow. It's just the right sweet combated by just the right roast/bitter.

While the body weighs in at an even moderate the carbonation is livelier than normal which makes for a light footed beer that allows some roast, bitterness, and coffee acidity to linger. The finish is dry, which also accentuates those characteristics. This beer is insanely drinkable. 6-pack? Gone, without even getting up.

The first time I sampled this beer was at the taproom shortly after Sugar Creek opened.I was highly impressed with this offering at that point. I'm glad it translated over so well to bottling. It's all expertly balanced and shows signs of all the right flavor profiles, what I perceive as right at least. I'd like to see this be one of their year around offerings. I'd imagine it would do well. I know I'd be buying it. Thanks, Wil! Good surprise there!

 

 

Excellent Porter with a huge aroma of coffee and chocolate. ABV is only 5.2% so it's very drinkable and has tons of flavor. Roasted malts, cocoa, coffee and some earthy notes all come through. One of the better coffee infused brews I've had.