Bangor Slate
Two Rivers Brewing Company

Poured from freshly-filled crowler into a 14 oz. snulip glass. It pours a very dark cola with a thin, ecru-colored head and lacing. It smells of roasted malt, earthy char, leather, tobacco, raisin, and perhaps a whiff of fig. It packs a lot of flavor, including burnt malt, charred nuts, bitter coffee grounds, peat, and cigar ash balanced by the sweeter notes of raisin, fig, and black cherry. As it warms there is also a subtle taste of cocoa. It finishes with a big dose of hoppy bitterness and earthy char. The various flavors blend very well and provide lots of depth. The mouth feel is richer and creamier than many other Baltics I've tried. The carbonation is rather mild but that may be because it's poured from a crowler. The small sample I tried at the brewery seemed to be appropriately carbonated. The 8.4% ABV gives it a nice kick. Overall, Bangor State is a very good example of the Baltic Porter style - it's one of the best locally-brewed Baltics I've had. It appears the average is weighted down by one review. I would drink Bangor State any time and would love to be able to purchase it in cans.

Poured from a tap into pint glass in June 2022 at their Easton pub.

Appearance: Very dark black with a thin dark brown head. Head lasted a few minutes. It left practically no lacing on the glass, and ended with just a few bubbles on the beer.

Smell: Aroma of coffee, roasted grain, with some chocolate. There is also some bitterness from hops, but overall the coffee and roasted malt dominate the others.

Taste: There is a strong coffee and chocolate flavors. I also taste some smoky roasted flavors and licorice flavors. Also, There is a nice amount of bitter hop flavors to enhance the taste. There is a medium-strong alcohol presence, which matches the 8.4% on the label.

Mouth-feel: Full body and thick, but also smooth. It has a little edge, like an Imperial Stout. A little more full-bodied than I expected from an 8.6% stout.

This is a very good porter, and I enjoyed the variety of flavors. The various flavors balance themselves well, especially the coffee and hops. Even though it is a full-bodied beer, it is still smooth and enjoyable to drink. I would buy this again, and probably my favorite Two River beer along with their Esoteric stout and Dutchtown IPA.

 

 

on draft at the brewery

dark brown in color, almost black, off-white colored head. mild roasty aroma - bitter cocoa, a touch smokey. well balanced, flavorful but not too bold, so it's still easy drinking. medium bodied.