Black Death Porter
Russell Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

07/05/2016

 

 

 

 

 

Tasting notes: Nice blackish brown brew with a fluffy light tan head. Sweet and earthy aroma. Chocolate pudding, sponge toffee, slight cola, tobacco on the palate. Great English flavor, rich, sweet, and creamy but with some slightly vegetal spicy hops in the finish to prevent things from being too cloying. A little raisin and rum late. Exceedingly tasty porter. Impressive effort from Russell, who seems to be kicking all kinds of ass lately with these big bottle releases.

 

Pours dark brown with a tan head that dissipates but leaves some lacing.

Nose has roasted malt, smoke, cocoa, and coffee.

Taste follows nose.

Good beer. Not great. It is missing the smoothness I have enjoyed in other porters.

 

On tap at the Black Frog, Vancouver.
Ruby black with webby beige film that webs. 3.75
Big roasty ash nose with some black currant. 3.75
Coffee grounds, some treacle, baker’s chocolate, not much in the way of hops. 3.75
Slight chocolate truffle ending and oily coffee bean bitter linger.
Lt-med, dry, slight chew. 4

Whoa, lean. Lots of sharp black acid malts combined with ashy roast gives this Irish levels of dryness. Harsh, but the name did warn you. 4

Well, this is not what I thought it might be, but that is why I try new beers! I love the look and concept behind a porter/wee heavy, but the taste does not really play out that way. More than anything this is a solid porter - smoky, chocolate malts and espresso are the dominant flavours for me. I'm not sure if there is much else to say, aside from the noticeable absence of the wee heavy characteristics I love so much. I would seek this one out again, but approach it with the knowledge of what it truly is.