Pig Trail Porter
Diamond Bear Brewing Company

 

Had years ago as Paradise Porter, and again recently as the questionably rebranded Pig Trail Porter.

Pours apparently black but actually red-brown, with a creamy light-tan head, usually less than 1/2-finger, which lasts only as a partial film and/or ring, and leaves little lace, for that classic porter look. The aromas are not big, but are interesting: some hop spice and dark fruits to start, a bit of coffee, and mild aromas of chocolate, caramel and roast malts. This is a very smooth, balanced porter, with initial sweetness just balanced by light roast malts, and then chocolate balanced by just enough hop bite in the finish.

 

 

Poured from a can into a pint glass.
Look: Very dark, nice amber color in light.
Smell: Smells pretty strongly of alcohol, malt and chocolate smells underneath that.
Taste: Starts with strong toasty and mildly sweet malt flavors that fade into a bitter and hoppy finish.
Feel: Medium body, very generic porter feel.
Overall: Pretty solid, but pretty generic tasting porter. Might buy again.

 

 

 

A: Pours an opaque yet still clear extremely dark cola brown approaching jet black in color with moderate amounts of active visible carbonation rising quickly along the edges of the glass and faint chestnut brown + garnet red colored highlights. The beer has a four finger tall sudsy foamy dark tan head that slowly reduces to a large patch of very thick film covering a little more than 90% of the surface of the beer surrounded by a large patch of very thin film covering the remainder of the surface of the beer and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate to significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of dark + roasted + caramel + chocolate + nutty malts with light amount of caramel sweetness and a hint of earthy hops. Light aromas of freshly brewed coffee.

T: Upfront there are slightly stronger than moderate flavors of dark + roasted + caramel + chocolate + nutty malts with a light amount of caramel sweetness. That is followed by light flavors of freshly brewed coffee. Finally there are very light flavors of earthy hops. Light to moderate amounts of lingering roasty bitterness.

M: Light to medium bodied with slightly heavier than moderate amounts of carbonation.

O: Fairly easy to drink with well hidden alcohol though a touch over-carbonated in my opinion. Enjoyable combination of flavors and aromas that are reminiscent of "cola."

A: The beer is very dark brown in color. It poured with a finger high light tan colored head that has good retention properties and hardly died down.
S: Light aromas of cola are present in the nose.
T: The taste has flavors of cola, dark roasted malts, and coffee.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: I liked the aromas and flavors of cola in this porter.

Serving type: can

 

 

Pours dark brown, small head of foam. Smells of roasted malt and bitter chocolate. I do get some sweet notes so the chocolate isn't all that bitter.
Taste has the smells in order though I do sense a mild coffee taste. Good beer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12oz bottle. Served in a teku glass.

Pours a dark cola brown body, one finger offwhite head, good collar, a bit of retention, not much lacing. Smells of roasted barley, milk chocolate, minerals, a bit of grain and slight char. Flavour is milk chocolate, good bit of creamy roast, touch of smoke and char. Straight forward porter flavour, but clean and loveably milk chocolate forward. A bit of fruity hops that impart a touch of tropical fruit sweetness, which is quite nice. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, creamy, good carbonation with mild char and plenty of milk chocolate on the finish. A nice roasty porter, on par with Black Butte. A tasty local for sure.

 

Pours a black color. 1/4 inch head of an off-tan color. Good retention and decent lacing. Smells of slight hops, slight roasted malt, hint of sweet malt, and a hint of alcohol. Fits the style of an American Porter. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp, with a noticeable bitterness from the roasted malt. Tastes of strong roasted malt, slight hops, slight sweet malt, slight alcohol, and a hint of yeast. Overall, the body is very strong, but the blend is almost totally bitter roasted malts.

 

 

 

 

 

Very smooth and pleasant. Glad to get an Arkansas beer!

 

 

 

 

March 17, 2015

12 oz bottle, nonic pint

A – Deep brown, almost turning to black, with light tan foam of about ¾ inch, and moderate retention. Clear, where it isn’t opaque.

S – A combination of sweet and roasty. Milky-sweet chocolate malt and roast, slightly coffee-ish. Hops are herbal and slightly fruity.

T – Dark chocolate, with a milky sweetness, and lightly roasted coffee. Some earthy/herbal hops with a touch of fruitiness and some mild bitterness.

M – Creamy, sweet, and bitter. Silky, sudsy carbonation with a medium-full body. Bitterness is just enough to hold up the excellent maltiness.

O – An excellent rendition of a robust porter.

 

This stuff is a textbook example of underrated beer. Honestly, I can't believe how good this stuff is for what it is. This could easily compete with the best known businesses in the biz (e.g. Stone, Sierra Nevada, Lagunitas, New Belgium, Clown Shoes, Founders, Great Lakes, etc.). Just a really good beer for a $1/bottle price. I'm sitting here thinking I need to contribute more to this review, but I cannot think of anything other than saying this is one of the best porters I have had in a long time.