King Cluster
Alvarium Beer Company

 

I rarely drain pour a beer but this one earned that ignoble distinction. Without burying it in an overly burdensome description, I’ll just say the smell of peanut butter was a standout positive, everything else was really bad. I’m not sure if it deteriorated with time but there was some kind of metallic off taste that really killed it above all else for me. The mouthfeel was really thin and slightly over carbonated, the taste in addition to the metallic taste had no vanilla to speak of, certainly no barrel, and overall it was just a mess.

Drank from a 1 pint can purchased at Alvarium Beer Company, New Britain, CT
Served in a tulip

Big thanks to my sister Vanessa for grabbing me a four-pack of this.

The beer poured a surprisingly thin, dark umber hue. A small cap of khaki colored bubbles topped the liquid, but it dissolved almost instantly. There was no lacing nor any head retention whatsoever.

The aroma was interesting and totally reminded me of a movie theater concession stand. Buttered popcorn dominated initially. Milk chocolate and peanut butter notes were also apparent. Reeses Peanut Butter cups definitely came to mind. Roasted malts were also noticeable. There was a subtle salty quality too. As the beer warmed, the peanut butter cup notes really took over. The saltiness definitely intensified as well.

The flavor profile was similar to the nose but definitely less impressive. Malty notes led things off. Roasted and caramel malts specifically. Moderately sweet. Some brown sugar was noticeable. Semisweet chocolate appeared in the center. Peanut butter was also apparent. More roasted malt character on the back end and the finish. A touch of bitter char lingered after the swallow.

The mouthfeel was thinner bodied than I anticipated. A touch watery perhaps. The liquid contained a medium bubbled, moderate effervescence that turned slick and smooth on the palate.

Even though the mouthfeel was quite thin, the barrel character and vanilla notes were nonexistent, and the buttered popcorn presence was pretty strange, this beer grew on me the second time I tried it. While there are certainly better peanut butter porters and stouts out there, this beer was a notable attempt at doing things a bit differently.

 

L - pours a thinnish, opaque brown with reddish edges. Light tan head that doesn't last long.

S - Reese's Beanut Putter Buffs. Strong, potent, and with a salty edge that bites hard. Dark chocolate, and those Skippy's peanut butter bars.

T - packs a boozy PB punch. Quite a bit of salt which takes off the sweetness these Cluster beers are known for. Not getting a whole lot of bourbon or barrel, but peanut butter is usually overpowering. Some vague Graham cracker doughiness and slight tangy tartness to finish it off. Bitterness lingers.

F - doesn't exactly feel like 10%, but has a syrupy viscosity to it. Sufficient thickness to make me satisfied, though. That was Clusternutter's weakness.

O - it's a big peanut butter beer... what more can you ask for? Still nails the Reese's flavors but in a much heftier package. Maybe a hair too much salt which kinda messes with the decadence I think this beer was supposed to be going for.