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!
