Ballast Point Black Marlin Porter

Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company
Style: Porter
San Diego, California USA

Draught Brown-black beer, no head to speak of. Coca-Cola pearling. Slightly smoked, black malts, roasted, slight cigar. Very light on the roasted side, a bit of chocolate, and more cigar flavour. Good balance for this 6% (so indicated at the brewery blackboard), not watery and quite smooth. Good, if not stellar porter.

From what I remember, this was a really nice porter with a good deal of fruity notes to accompany the dark, roasty aromas and flavours. The nose is ripe berries (probably due to esterification in the bottle), cocoa, cappucino and NW hops. The flavour boasts a stronger coffee presence with the same berry suggestions found in the nose, some buttery, lactic tones, pleasant roasted malts, chocolate and some piney hops. The mouthfeel was a bit thin with soft, creamy carbonation (not actually carbonation) and the finsh was long and dry. This would be a fine session brew

22 ounce bottle. Pours dark brown with mahogany highlight or two. Creamy beige head with some lace left behind. I smell oats in the nose. It reminds me of a Starbucks Frappaccino, or some other sweet coffee drink. Pretty chocolaty with a sturdy bitter finish. Very full body. Average carbonation. Dry finish. I’d drink this anytime.

Pour from a bomber delivered a black shade with a thin tan head. Aromas of coffee and dark toasty malt. Good mouthfeel and then flavors of cocoa, smoke, vanilla and mild hops. Nice balance and overall a good solid brew.

Pours near black with a slight tan head, Aroma of chocolate and roasted coffee. Taste the same with a slide into a slightly bitter finish. Med-light mouthfeel and combination.

22oz. Bottle: Aroma of chocolate and roasted malts. Poured dark brown/black in color with a medium-sized, rocky, foamy tan head that diminished in size but lasted throughout. Opaque. Medium sweet flavor. Tastes of roasted malts, chocolate, piney hops, creme, and sugar. Medium body. Thin, chalky texture. Average carbonation. Dry, chocolate and roasted malt finish.

22oz bomber courtesy of Weeheavy! Pours a murky brown color with a small tan head. Nose is deeply roasted, sour lactic (hersheys chocolate) and some fruits. Initial taste of roasted malts and hints of chocolate. Mid palate displays some smoke. Finishing with good balancing hops and dark malts. Palate duration is about average. Some head retention. Light to medium body. Easy drinking.

Dark brown tan head. Chocolate and roast in the aroma along with some earthy hops. Nice roast with a mild caramel malt sweetness that combines very well with the roast. Lightly hopped; they give off a light earthy bitterness. Solid.