Going Hazelnuts With Outlaw'd Collaborations
Bierol

 

 

 

 

Beige thick fine bubbled head, leaves lacing, body is a dark clear brown, though it was bottle conditioned, fine bubbles visible. A real beauty.
Smell is roasted malts more on the chocolate than coffee side, not pungent but nicely restrained, quite appropriate for the style in my opinion. Due to the name, I am looking for hazelnuts and I get a smell that reminds me of dried ground hazelnuts indeed. I could be deceived of course but there is definitely nuttiness. Modest but good.
Taste is what I would expect from a Porter with a little more prominent roast and coffee than in the aroma. A little sour, a little sweet and a little too bitter in the end. Again a hazelnut component on the threshold.
Smooth drinker, adequate carbonation, good easy to medium body, some warmth, adequate feel for the ABV.
Surprisingly balanced Porter for a brew in their experimental prototype series. The namegiving hazelnuts are noticeable but do not kill the Porter experience. Very well done. For my own pleasure I would look for a tad more body too make it even smoother and a little less bitterness. Anyway, I am really impressed by this first offering that I had from Bierol.