Snake Pit Porter
Oaken Barrel Brewing Company

I've been bitten one too many times by dark ale that's suppose to be toasty, drinkable and robust only to be met with pastry, sweetness and weight. It's good to see that Oaken Barrel still know what a traditional porter is.

Their Snake Pit Porter hits the glass with a darker, bark-brown depth of brown while building a light blanket of tanish froth. As a robust perfume of coffee, chocolate, nuttiness and toast decorate the nose, the first sip greets the tastebuds with a malt richness of caramel, toffee and a light creaminess ahead of darker flavors. Next up are the toasty insinuations of coffee and dark chocolate with hints of nuttiness and a broadly woodsy bitterness to finish.

Medium-full in body, the malty-dry ale is a very drinkable dark beer with balance, boldness and sensibility for those of us who what a porter-flavored porter.

Black as a raven with a tanish head. Nose is heavy on the malt and dark chocolate. Taste is very malty with little to no bitterness on back end. Very good porter.