Back Road Christmas Ale 2008

Formerly brewed at Back Road Brewery
Style: Imperial/Strong Porter
LaPorte, Indiana USA

From one of those fancy wax covered bottles and served in my big ole Tripel Karmeliet tulip. (I opened one at the brewery but was too busy yapping to take notes). Pitch black with a fading beige head which left spotty lace upon the glassware. The nose has a wonderful combination of smoked and chocolate malts, grassy hops, oak, mineral water, prune and dare I say... Cloudberry (okay I know no Cloudberry is in the beer but damn it, I smelled some anyhow). The taste is spot on for what is expected with lots of charred and mocha overtones over a layer of dark fruit and dry clean oak. Gets a bit grainy in midsection before racing off towards the ashy and oily finish. A stunning brew, Chuck seems to have mastered these smoked dark beers... now I am still waiting for the re-release of the black IPA. This is more than do in the meantime. Me hopes those getting some as gifts enjoy this as well.

Thanks to Mike for bringing this! Poured near black with a creamy cap of beige head. The aroma picked up sweet black patent malts and chocolate with complementary smoke action.. just decadent, picking up cocoa right on the back. The flavor was just as good with semi-sweet chocolate, caramel, and lighter coffee at the core with moderate roast all around.. charred smoke and coffee bitterness around the edges.. finished with even more chocolate and smoke. Medium-plus bodied with spicy, lingering bitterness intricately intertwined with the rich malts.. great brew!

Wax topped bomber from BBB63. Thanks Mike, this beer screams strong ale for me, because mike gave me a 2007 12 ounce there last year. Poured into a new belgium glass. Pours black with a light brown head. Nose is sweet and smokey with a big malt edge. Taste is smokey, with rich coffee notes and a lot of big rich roasted chocoalte malt. This is a smooth rich coffee porter, yum.

Enjoyed from a growler shared on Thanksgiving. This beer poured an oily black with a bubbly head of tan foam that quickly faded away. A small amount of slippery lacing was left behind. The aroma consisted of rich chocolate, charred wood, and vanilla. The flavor included bittersweet chocolate, heavy roast, some light smoke, dried dark fruits, and a hint of vanilla/oak. The mouthfeel was slick and full-bodied. Mild carbonation. A really tasty brew. Back Road’s Christmas Ales never disappoint!

Bottle shared by argo0: Pours a barely transparent dark mahogany with a thin stringy-lacing off-white head. Aroma of sweet dark caramel and chocolate with a hint of black cherry and earthy smoky oak. Body starts with good viscosity and rich, oily sweet dark chocolate and licorice notes with a lot of fresh oak and a touch of coffee. Finishes smooth and hides its alcohol well. An enjoyable strong porter.

(22oz bottle, thanks BBB63) Small beige head atop red-black body. Aroma is moderately sweet, chocolate, roast/smoke, light coffee. Taste is medium sweet, chocolate, smoke/roast. Low carbonation, medium-full body, smooth.

Appearance: Pours a dark brown, near black body with a smallish, frothy, light khaki-colored head. Smell: Chocolaty, roasty malts with notes of toasted caramel, coffee, and, though only a subtle oak and smoke presence. Taste: Roasted malts with a taste of semi-sweet chocolate and toasted grains. Thin drizzle of caramel-flavored coffee. Understated oak flavor. Touch of smoked spices. Roasty, earthy bitterness. Finishes dry and roasty with a dash of ashy soot. Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium carbonation. Drinkability: A real "feel good" Christmastime brew. It’s definitely one of the better brews I’ve had from Back Road.

22 ounce bottle. Pours pure black with a white head. The aroma is ashy smoke with maybe a little chocolarte but not much. The flavor is pleasant hard wood smoke and a light fudge character. Medium body with light carbonation. Dry ashy finish.