Smoked Chocolate Porter
SandLot Brewery at Coors Field

This beer was introduced as part of "Brewmasters Unleashed," a showcase of Tenth and Blake brewers, at the Arizona Strong Beer Fest. It's a smoked porter aged in a 1962-vintage Louis Royer cognac barrel with one pound of Dutch cocoa. Enjoyed in a taster glass.


Dull burnt-bread brown, with amber highlights. A pillowy head the color of beach sand quickly becomes a thin, retentive layer.

Smells smoky, like a barbecue. Toasted bread, oats, chocolate crumbles, a touch of sourdough. Cognac emerges after a swirl and even more as it warms, becoming fruity, with very slight booze character.

The flavor is pretty identical. Nice meaty, smoky flavor swirls with increased chocolate imparted by bitter nibs. There’s a bit of sweet tang in the back, along with some toasted biscuits. The swallow is packed with roasted coffee beans. Cognac isn't big but is there, lending smoky fruits and a touch if booze flavor. Well-rounded.

Medium, active carbonation and quite a bit of fizz. The body, a notch under medium, is a little lighter than I’d like.

A very nice flavor from this porter. It could use more body and just a bit more intensity, but it displays great balance. Nice showing from the guys at Tenth and Blake.