Joe Beer
Hillsboro Brewing Co.

I don't go out of my way to drink porters, so its not exactly my wheelhouse, but this is a really good beer. It starts smooth and creamy and malty and yummy, then finishes with a nice piney hoppy flourish that holds on just the right amount. Kind of like Guinness, only way better. The Hillsboro boys make several beers I like, this might be the best.

 

 

Appearance: Pours a dark brown, nearly black, color with a mild tan head. SRM of 20. (3.75)

Aroma: Strong aromas of cocoa, dark fruit, berries, and coffee roast. (3.75)

Flavor: Strong flavors of chocolate, dark fruit, berries with a floral and pine, bite mixed with some coffee roast bitterness off the finish. Maybe some rye spice as well. (3.75)

Feel: Medium-bodied, average carbonation. A bitter pine and coffee bitterness lingers. (3.50)

Compared to Lake Louie Tommy's Porter 1/2023: Pours lighter, stronger aromas. More pine, coffee roast .less smooth chocolate and malty.

Overall: A pretty decent Porter here. Some berry, pine, and coffee roast flavors add some complexity. Falls off the end a bit as the flavor fades. Nice roast though. Could use a bit more flavor to balance the bitterness is my only critique. (Rating:

I got a can of this beer off the single shelf from the Woodman's in Onalaska, Wisconsin just outside LaCrosse. It poured a clear dark amber with no head and no lace. The scent had subtle roast malt notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with roast malt presence. The mouthfeel was lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall it is a good beer.

Had with the vegetarian chili platter for lunch at Spring Green Cafe. A good pairing as the chili and beans were filling, so a dark light ale worked. Also, there was little animal fat, so I didn't need bubbles or hops to cut the grease.

I also give good Overall Hugs to Hillsboro because they have done something without much in their first nine years. Opening a micro and, then, an elaborate taproom and, then, and events destination all in a very small town without much going on is risky. Kudos to the dedication of this husband-wife combo.

Slightly cola leaning in color, fleeting 1/2 finger of off-white head retreated to the edge with slight adhesion but no lacing.
Coffee dominates with hints of char and smoke and a touch of grassy sweetness.
Good depth of the roasted flavors - brown bread crust dominates.
Thicker than traditional English which is neither here no there but a bit cloying which is definitely not helping.

Good but a forgiving style so hard to knock.

12 oz can, 5 months old
Rogue spiegl

Chocolate brown with mahogany tint, some creamy beige head about 1/2 finger stable.

Aromas of chocolate and spiced molasses, some rye bread, a touch of dark fruit.

Flavor is like chocolate molasses spread on rye bread; very dark, very spicy, very esoteric. The spiciness continues throughout the finish, bringing more dark fruit notes at the end.

Feel is creamy and to a higher extent carbonated, with some slickness in between and very faint dryness and roastiness on the end. Very mild to moderate alcohol warmth, it's pleasant.

Overall an interesting beer if you're looking for something to bridge the gap between a dark doppelbock and a porter. It's thicker than usual so it isn't like a bock of any kind, but the deep fruit flavors are there with spicy rye. Nice work.

 

Joe Beer pours a translucent brownish color, with not much head. Smokey aroma, with hints of sweetness.; not too strong. Flavor is light, very light, hints of smoke, hints of sweet chocolate. Very light, very watery, and very flat. Overall, while its got some decent flavor, its way too light and watery.

Had it on Tap in New Lisbon .WI. Great taste, good mouth feel. Slightly smokey, not bitter, Chocolate/coffee but not fruity.
One of the best fresh American Porters I have had in a long time. Not normally a fan of Porters (Love IPA's), but definitely would recommend this one.