Hunter's Point Porter (Aged On Cacao Nibs)
Speakeasy Ales & Lagers

 

Dark tan head, fairly dark brown color that looks quite black in the light. Some highlighting for sure.

Nose is warm, with plenty of chocolate (excuse me, cacao) notes. Some oak and vanillin notes. Not much in the way of hops or balance.

The flavor is warming as well, with enough chocolate and coffee to make stack up to a stout. Enjoyable and smooth, with notes of vanilla, smoke, oak, rye bread, lactose, and brown sugar.

Good size overall, highly carbonated which takes some of the bitterness away. For my money, a little more bitterness would be just fine in the form of some hoppy balance.

(From notes)

A - Poured with a half-finger of darker tan, frothy head; Deep, dense black color

S - Alcohol show up first and is a little oppressive; woody; dark bittersweet chocolate

T - Wood; earthy; warming alcohol in the taste isn't as overwhelming as in the aroma; vanilla and bourbon notes

M - Thicker and pretty full; lush; nice carbonation level to spark it up a bit

D - Nice layers of flavors; a very relaxing sipping brew

Overall, the taste more than made up for the shortcomings in the aroma, and was a nice brew.

Weird to see a beer named after this neighborhood - the semiotics of which irks my oversensitive side (though not as much as say, Sexual Chocolate's label design) but anyway:

Served in a wide-mouth tulip.

Glossy, dark reddish-brown body with no head to speak of. Crimson highlights...

Chocolate is strongest in the aroma - fresh nibs (Godiva?) along with roast malt and a faint note of hops. Coffee and baker's chocolate announce themselves as well.

Raw chocolate melds with the malts very well - it becomes difficult to distinguish chocolate from malt. Hints of cherry pits and cigarettes (not tobacco) along with more roast (malt and chocolate conjoined) in the finish. Sweet, very slightly sour and astringent, and relatively dry overall.

Pretty light-bodied with low carbonation. Somewhat chewy maybe, but rather disappointing in terms of mouthfeel.

Beverage improves slightly as it warms; a good sipper though it isn't too hot (despite a supposedly whopping 10% ABV according to the menu - a number I find difficult to believe).

RBSG09 on tap at the brewery. Pours very dark brown with mahogany highlights. Small cocoa-colored head. Chocolate cakey aroma, some cocoa powder, dark bread crusts. Big dark chocolate flavor with creamy coffee, bread, and a solid roasted bitterness. Pretty tasty, easy to drink.