Elk Creek Poe Paddy Porter

It's been a while since I've had a good porter, especially one on tap, and since it was a pretty chilly day (deep freeze warning and snow showers expected in mid-May!?  This is Pennsy, not Alasky!), I opted for Elk Creek's Poe Paddy Porter:

Vittles:

Brown Porter

Abv unknown

Appearance: 8/10

Very dark mahogany brown with some ruby highlights toward the bottom of the glass.  The head was a relatively thin but creamy tan cap by the time it got to the table.  It retained moderately well and left mild lacing as it fell.

Aroma: 21/25

I like the mildly roasty nose on this beer.  There's a bit of nuttiness, some mild chocolate and coffee notes, and a little sweetness like toffee and caramel, but these last few are more subtle.

Taste: 32/40

The nutty, chocolate, and toffee flavors came through the clearest for me, and the rest took a back seat.  The flavors aren't over strong or bold, but they are nicely balanced and very enjoyable.  There's also a decent level of bitterness, but it doesn't overwhelm any of the other flavors.  Very nice flavor profile overall.

Mouthfeel: 8/10

Smooth, creamy, and velvety with a medium-full body and a slightly dry finish.  It's almost a little chewy, which is nice.

Style: 5/5

This is a pretty good example of a porter.  It hits the right notes for appearance, aroma, and flavor, and keeps everything nicely balanced.

Drinkability: 8/10

Very drinkable, and I'd think it would pair nicely with a good, hearty meal, like a stew.  It definitely took the chill out of me, too.

Overall: 82/100

This is the first beer I've tried from Elk Creek Cafe & Aleworks, and I would absolutely try more of their beers, since I liked this one so much.  It's a good ambassador beer and a well-done porter.  I'll have to take a trip out to Elk Creek some time and get a sampler flight.

Cheers!