Raspberry Vanilla Porter
Austin Brothers Beer Co.

 

 

 

L- Pours a dark black with a good sized tan head that dissipates to a thin ring in about a minute.

S- the raspberry hits the nose hard right off the bat, right as the can was popped open. Sweet and candy-like but super appealing. Not much vanilla on the nose but that raspberry steals the show.

T- the vanilla shows up on the first taste, followed by that strong raspberry from the nose, and then the roasty toasty portor on the back end supporting everything else. Starts sweet and smooth with the vanilla and raspberry and ends with the bitter porter. Between sips, the raspberry and porter are lingering together, waiting for the next taste.

F- a little light for my tastes but in line with most porters I've had. Good carbonation and a smooth finish make it a pleasure to drink.

O- a fantastic fruit forward porter, which is something I never thought I'd find or enjoy, honestly. Definitely worth a revisit, I'm glad I got a six-pack.

 

A - Pours pitch black with a large foamy tan head. Nice soapy lacing.

S - Aroma is raspberry and dark chocolate.

T - The taste is dark chocolate, raspberry, coffee, roasted malts and light vanilla.

M - Medium body with medium carbonation. Creamy mouthfeel with a soft dry finish.

O - Pretty decent porter. Raspberry adds a nice touch of sweetness. Super easy drinking.

 

 

 

12 ounce can into tulip glass, canned on 11/18/2019. Pours opaque ruby red/brown/black color with a 1-2 finger dense and rocky khaki head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Thick foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big juicy/tart/tangy red raspberries, fruit skin/seeds, milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, roasted nuts, toasted biscuit, and dark bread/crust; with lighter notes of dark fruit, smoke, charcoal, wood, herbal, grass, pepper, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of raspberries, vanilla, dark/black/roast/bready malts, and light-moderate earthy hop notes; with big strength. Taste of big juicy/tart/tangy red raspberries, fruit skin/seeds, milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, roasted nuts, toasted biscuit, and dark bread/crust; with lighter notes of dark fruit, smoke, charcoal, wood, herbal, grass, pepper, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness. Light-moderate pine, herbal, woody, grassy, peppery, roast, charred bitterness; and fruit tang/tartness after the finish. Lingering notes of tart/tangy red raspberries, fruit skin/seeds, milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, roasted nuts, toasted biscuit, dark bread/crust, dark fruit, smoke, charcoal, wood, herbal, grass, pepper, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of raspberries, vanilla, dark/black/roast/bready malts, and light-moderate earthy hop flavors; with a great hop/roast bitter/sweet and tart/tangy fruit balance; with no acrid/astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering hop/char bitterness and tart/tangy fruit. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/grainy, and fairly sticky/chalky/acid/tangy/tannic mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 6%. Overall this is an excellent fruited American porter. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of raspberries, vanilla, dark/black/roast/bready malts, and light-moderate earthy hop flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the modestly bitter/tangy/tannic/drying finish. Nicely soft and not overly bitter/tart. Great balance between juicy/jammy berries, vanilla, rich malts, and earthy hops. Mild residual sweetness with lingering dryness. A very enjoyable offering, and well made style example as expected of the brewery. Not overwhelming on any aspect.

 

 

Drank straight from the prowler. The aroma is pure dark-chocolate covered raspberries. Flavors tracks the same, with slightly tart raspberry and semi-sweet chocolate finishing slightly dry with a bit of char. Quite fantastic and goes well with a dark cocoa bar.