Everything Nice
Ogden River Brewing

a flavorful porter done up with cinnamon and vanilla. i like this a lot, and i like it as much for what isnt in it as for what is, no coffee, no barrels, no chocolate, no chili, its not trying to do too much, and takes just a couple of the best wintery cozy ingredients and tastefully puts them together, i like how it keeps it a little streamlined. the cinnamon is warming but not spicy, and the base beer really isnt all that sweet, so this doesnt drink like a dessert, they were smart to ferment it down this way. the vanilla is natural, behind the cinnamon to my tastes but still obvious, coming out in the center of this with the deep chocolate layers imparted by the malts. full success on flavor building here. i like the lighter body, and do think this could handle a bit more bitterness from the dark grain, but its very approachable without it, and fits squarely in the porter category. i like how the twinkling cinnamon is the last thing i taste on each sip, just a hint of brown sugar with it. a thoughtful and well executed winter brew here.