In Robust We Trust
Steady Habit Brewing Company

 

 

Growler into Duvel tulip.

Appearance: Pours black (translucent mahogany edges) with a fizzy tan head. Decent lacing.

Smell: Easy, well-balanced porter aroma. By 'easy' I mean the coffee, chocolate, and other dark malt notes balance together breezily. No booze, no clash, all smooth inviting dark beer aromas with a nice effervescence.

Taste: Follows the nose, with the addition of some coffee liqueur-like sweetness in the end. This is an eaaaasy drinking beer. Lots of flavor, great balance between sweetness and bitterness. No alcohol flavor but some heat in the chest (because it's so easy to drink it so fast).

It's been a long time since I've had a straightforward porter this good. Since Hill Farmstead Everett really. No off flavors, just sweet enough, nothing punches you in the face but there's lots of subtle malty flavors that you don't get from your average stout/porter.

Mouthfeel: full side of medium bodied. Milky creaminess. Moderate carbonation. Less dryness than I usually want but it's by no means sugary and it's not hot in the least. As subtle and well done as the rest of the beer.

Overall: Great porter, definitely worthy of being a staple alongside Steady Habit's hoppier beers. Porters and stouts aren't hard to make well, but this one's a few steps above what most breweries can do. Deft stuff.

 

 

L: beautiful black body with a thick foamy light brown head, thick tan lacing
S: roasty and nutty with hints of chocolate and coffee
T: chocolate, coffee, praline and a touch of dark fruits
F: silky up front, nice full body and perfect carb, but a bit over the top in bitterness
O: really nice porter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sampling a cold 750 ml bottle obtained at the brewery from Jon. Thank you!
Poured into a snifter the beer gives rise to a creamy tan head of 2 cm even with a gentle pour. This foams fades to a clingy edge layer and some wispy islands leaving some spotty lattice on the glass.
Aroma is roasted malt heavy with some dark bakers chocolate and a little dry coffee. I also do get hints of grassy hops buried under the malt. THe nose on this beer is fairly robust and strong, I like it.
First sip reveals very fine tingly carbonation and an averagely thick body with smooth texture. Nice physical traits. Flavor is heavy with roasted malt. The roast flavor is coffee and dark cocoa chocolate that covers my palate and lingers after each sip. There may be just a bit of tangy brown sugar in there too, but it is gone quickly in the middle. I do get some grassy and herbal hops coming through on the finish, but the roast notes dominate this beer. No booze hints and generally very drinkable.
I really enjoy this beer and will buy again if it is on draft at the brewery. Well done Jon!

 

On tap at 2 Bros. Pours a pitch black color with an inch of medium brown head. Some lacing. Roasty aroma with some dark chocolate, vanilla and earth. The taste is not unlike the aroma. Nice and roasty upfront followed by some bitter dark chocolate. Lots of earth and charcoal. Finished with some more roasted malts and earth. Medium bodied with a slick mouthfeel. Overall, a pretty tasty Porter I'll grab again.

I opened my fridge tonight to pull out dinner fixings and, to my surprise, my future father-in-law had snuck in a growler of In Robust We Trust! What an excellent surprise! Let's pop it open!

This is a gorgeous looking beer poured from a beautiful 750ml Steady Habit growler. There's a lovely prickliness from the hops that quickly gives way to a mingling of chocolate, coffee, and maybe some plum?

Fantastic brew! Can't wait to try 'em all. Keep up the good work, guys!

Update 03/04: The latest batch is fantastic! Better looking head, a little bit sweeter, less hop presence, and a smoother mouthfeel. Deeeelicious.