It's Dam Cool - Double Coffee
Magnify Brewing Company

Picked this up at Magnify a while ago, finally getting to it tonight along with some other brews of theirs that have lingered in my stash. I had the original take on this but this version was better because of the extra coffee in it, with the end result being a beer that was easier to savor and enjoy, while having the same amount of alcohol as the original.

This had a good pour to it as the liquid looked like coffee - brown and thin enough to let in a bit of light around the edges. Lots of bubbly, tan head topped this off which contrasted nicely with the liquid and there was a *ton* of lacing down the side of my pint glass as I sipped this; as the bubbles covered a vast majority of the inside of my pint glass. Tons of coffee, espresso, and cinnamon in the aromatic nose with cardamom underneath that. To be sure, this had such an exotic feel to it that indeed, it felt like a Middle Eastern concoction and not something that slapped a Turkish motif onto it. A nuttier undertone took over in the mouthfeel as this was somewhat dry, roasted, and burnt on the palate. The amount of coffee in this saved the day as it felt thin and carbonated enough to have it slide down easily, in spite of the range of flavors that were present.

It was tough to pick out the malt and alcohol that were present here as this felt like coffee that was fermented and served cold. No sweetener was needed here as there were hints of cream in the nose and even more to in the taste, lending a lactose base that everything present could complement. This got better and better as it warmed up and by the time I finished it off, I was convinced that this was one of Magnify's best offerings. Not terribly burnt or roasted, this was an American Porter that took the style to the next level, from the get-go. Easily worth seeking out!

L - pours a fizzy-looking cola with a beige head.

S - oh yeah, that's cardamom. Unlike anything I've smelled in beer before. Chai-spiced coffee with light tobacco and chili spice. Crazy unique.

T - aw man, I was hoping for a similar robustness in flavor, but it falls a bit thin. Still getting bombastic flavors of pepper, chewy medium roast coffee (Turkish style, anybody?), cinnamon sticks, and tobacco toward the end. There's a flat, cardboardy fruitiness... perhaps currants and some smokiness. Chai latte. Lot going on here. Neutral finish with slight menthol cooling.

F - as previously mentioned, a little thinner than I'd have liked, but it is a porter, and a silky smooth one at that. Just needs a heavier body to support these flavors!

O - okay, this is different. I... think I like it? It's unrefined for sure, and a bit overboard on the adjuncts, but it's a ton of fun to drink and dissect.

 

 

Well now, the first batch was a very tasty but subtle brew. The coffee was there for sure, but in the background. Not this batch, they weren't kidding when they said " double coffee " You get it on the nose immediately. Wonderful aroma. Pours black with a slight foamy head. Coffee flavor is up front and present throughout. Superb beer that gets even better as it warms and the flavors really come out. I'm betting it will also age well. Magnify is known for their IPA game and rightfully so but this Porter is excellent. Well done.

 

I had this at the brewery on its release date. It pours a deep mahogany color but with little head or lacing. I suspect that is due to being served on draught at a low temperature. Since I had the base version in cans, I'm going to give it the benefit of the dout. The nose includes bot freshly-brewed and burnt coffee, along with a hint of chocolate. It's a fragrant beer. The taste manages to incorporate both the freshly-brewed and burnt coffee flavors, together with nuts and some milk chocolate. This porter is medium-bodied with light carbonation, and it is very easy to drink with an ABV of 7% Overall, this is a coffee bomb, which I think is better than the base It's Dam Cool. It would stand up well to a meal but can easily be quaffed as a casual beer.