Where's My Nuts Hazel?
Noon Whistle Brewing Co.

 

 

This was the 2nd of my two growlers that I got for a Super Bowl party last week. Being that I am a huge dark beer fan, I figured if the Lilacia went over well enough that I might get this entirely to myself. No such luck, but that's ok. I'm always happy to be a supplier of beer that everyone enjoys.

This beer pours a dark brown hue with mahogany edges and clear visibility, although you can't see entirely through the beer due to the dark nature of it. The head is khaki colored and is creamy, although very hard to induce. Once the head develops, it dissipates ultra slowly to a thin lacing. The carbonation is very light and easily visible. 4/5 The aroma is sweet and nutty with notes of toffee, hazelnuts, sweet chocolate, and a light coffee. It almost reminds me of a mocha latte that has had hazelnut syrup added to it. The hazelnuts really come out with this beer, especially as it warms. This porter heavily leans towards sweet and malty with very little in the way of hops coming through. 4.25/5 The flavor of this beer is like drinking milk chocolate laced with Nutella. It is amazingly sweet and nutty and really comes across as a dessert beer, although I could drink it at any time. The malt is definitely dark roasted in nature but there is not a strong coffee flavor at all. The bitterness is moderate in strength with a moderate lingering bitterness. A bit of grassy hops and hay come out on the back end but that is really the only mention of the hops in either the flavor or aroma. 4.25/5 This is a smooth and creamy beer that is full bodied and features light carbonation. There is a light dryness at the very end but it does not linger long and is not very strong. 4/5 To date, this is my favorite beer from Noon Whistle. I love the combination of hazelnuts and dark roasted malt and that combination results in a beer that is not too sweet or bitter. The earthiness of the hazelnuts really keeps the bitterness from the dark roast and the sweetness of the chocolatey character in check. 4.25/5

 

Taste: semi sweet malt, hazelnut, oat smooth finish, dark fruit notes. mild nutty and chocolate malt nose. Black/Brown, mostly opaque, tiny head with delicate lace. Medium/Full body. In the 20-ish IBUs range.