Caramel Porter
Trout River Brewing Company

 

Tried this one on tap at the brewery. It's one of their six seasonal selections that are only served at the brewery. Ironically, most of their seasonals are much better than the traditional ones they sell in stores...MUCH BETTER!

Medium brown/maroon in color with an off-white thin head. No carbonation to speak of, non-existant.

Cinnamon, raisin, nutmed nose with a really vinegary slant to it, like most of the Trout River beers. Candy sugar aroma. However, it is really unique. The vinegar dosen't spoil it like most of the other beers at Trout River.

The taste is a malty and with a sweetness of Belgian candy sugar and raisins. Some caramelness to it. As the name implied, it is a malty sweet beer with a caramel undertone. The taste is very balanced, however, not overly sweet but just enough.

Nice medium bodied. Very drinkable, sweet and caramely. A great beer. Probably the best the brewery has to offer.

Poured into my pint glass off the tap a deep amber color with ruby hues. Tan head offered some good retention but weak lacing. Pleasant aromas of liquid smoke and chocolate malt. Flavors were similar, baking chocolate, roasted malt and smoke burned bread but no sweetness and no caramel. Who's in charge here? The body was a little light for the style but the carbonation was light and the mouthfeel smooth as is apropos. A good porter but a bad caramel porter. Back to the drawing board gentlemen.

Growler poured into a pint glass.

Pours a dark brown color with a thin tan head that dissipates very quickly with little to no lacing. Chocolate malt, smoke, and alcohol are the dominatant aromas. Carmelized, toated and chocolate malts up front with a bitter chocolate finish mixed with well balanced smoke. Full bodided, medium high carbonation leave a clean mouthfeel. Just the right amount of smoke makes this a drinkable porter.