Pikeville Porter
Alltech's Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co.

 

 

 

 

This had a deep dark hue but appeared rather thin in its pour. The nose gives off a dry airy scent of char, embers, Graham cracker and dry chocolate. The flavor is roasted, toasty, smoky and dry. There's a bit of dry cocoa powder, campfire ember and coffee. The flavor gets washed away in a thin watery feel. I imagine this was different in its original structure but once mass produced it got lost in translation.

With cooler autumn weather comes the one-off Great American Beer Festival, Pro-Am offerings. Alltech's porter showcases the talents of Lexington local homebrewer, Chad Shive.

The dark collaboration is deep brown with mahogany margins. Dense and creamy, its tan stained head releases robust toast, coffee and cocoa aromas, laced with malted milk, walnut and charred wood. All that dances on a stage of toffee, caramel and faint molasses.

Trending dry and drinkable, the sweetness reluctantly recedes, leaving behind the flavor of bold roast coffee, bitter chocolate, roasted walnut and a slight tinge of smoldering ember. Broad and woodsy hops are softly of pine and tea before growing bitterly in finish.

Medium bodied, the ale shows fuller tendencies but as the sweetness fades, the texture falls into cola thinning and reveals mild bark-like astringency and a hint of grape skin and plum. Cocoa and coffee outlasts the finish and lingers boldly in aftertaste.