Warning: The beers seen here come highly recommended!!
imperial stout, organic lager, taddy porter
THE FAMOUS TADDY PORTER - Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster); North Yorkshire, ENG
5.00%ABV
Serving: 12oz to pint
A: Two fingers of frothy tan head over a black beer that allows the slightest bit of mahogany come through in the light. Not the most head retention I’ve seen.
S: HUGE malty aroma explodes out of the glass. Simple chocolatey malts.
T: Immediately notice the great balance of malts and hops in this beer. There’s a bit of a burnt flavor behind a bitter chocolate malt kick. Ends in a slight tangyness that ends dryly.
M: Good amount of carbonation that mellows out after a few minutes. Medium body and an incredibly smooth/creamy mouthfeel.
D: Easy and pleasant to drink. Unlike many American takes on the style, this porter does not overwhelm the palate with the coffee/toffee malts. It’s well balanced and was quite a welcome change of pace. An absolutely magnificent session porter!
Taddy Porter - A
IMPERIAL STOUT
7.00%ABV
Serving: 12oz to pint
A: Two fingers of a firm, whipped head over a pitch black beer with the slightest hint of light brown at the bottom of the glass. A small head sticks around.
S: Sweet roasted aromas, milk chocolate; heavy and sweet “cream”/dairy smell, like smelling the top of a cupcake (for lack of better comparison); dark fruit aromas.
T: Surprisingly fruity character; dark, ripe berries and other fruits and a creamy malty flavor topped with bitter chocolate.
M: Incredibly thick and creamy; smooth, but leaves a good amount of residue on the palate.
D: One of the best stouts I’ve had. A pretty toned-down version of an RIS, but still an absolutely brilliant take. I can’t wait to grab another of these!
Imperial Stout - A
ORGANICALLY PRODUCED LAGER BEER
5.00%ABV
Serving: Victorian Pint to Pils
A: Small, bubbly white head over a body of dark, clear yellow.
S: Sweet, honey-like malt character with notes of washed/wet grains, aromas of wheat and the smallest hint of herbs deep in the aroma.
T: Not a ton of overwhelming flavors, but a lot of subdued ones. Slight hop struggling for power with the grain flavor that was promised by the aroma. Average bitterness in the sip, balanced by sweet malts with grassy, metallic notes throughout.
M: Light and crisp mouthfeel that cries for a hot summer day.
D: Stays true to its style, which is definitely towards the bottom of the list for me. I might have one this summer as it’s easy to drink, but I can’t say I’d reach for this over a wheat beer in the California heat. If you’re into Euro Pales, this one is definitely for you.
Organic Lager - B
Porter and stout are available at the co-op for a reasonable price. I look forward to picking up and reviewing the nut brown ale and oatmeal stout very soon!
