Berkshire Shabadoo Black and Tan Ale

Brewed by Berkshire Brewing Co.
Style: Porter
South Deerfield, Massachusetts USA

It was towards the end of the night but this black and tan was delightful. Hints of the Drayman’s Porter poked through on the nose, with the lighter texture of the Ale hitting the palate. Great well rounded beer.

Bottle. Pours a dark brown ale with a strong aroma of caramel quickly gripping my nose. A strong presence of pale malts, chocolate, with some hop character.

Bomber pours a translucent, copper amber color with a creamy, slightly off white head that coated the edges of the glass with fine bubbles. Even with a nose severely handicapped by allergies I could detect a strong malty aroma that smelled very sweet but also hinted to some biscuit as well and just a touch of tropical fruits. For me, the flavor was a bit of a let down from the aroma. Malty and dry with some caramel and biscuit and a more roasted flavor than one might anticipate. Finish is clean. Good session beer and definitely worth the money ($4.99 at Charles St. Liquors in Boston).

Bottle thanks to Goryshkewych, as a freebie in a trade.Pours a slightly hazy red brown color, nice big off white head, some very sticky, spidery lacing. Some mild hops, bread, and mild sweetness make up the nose. Flavors start out with butterscotch, roasty bread crust, mild tart fruit. Middle is dried fruit, mild chocolate, and coffee, maybe some chocolate. Finishes with some mild balancing hop bitterness, somewhat grassy after a mild fruit finish ends. Pretty thin in body with mild carbonation. This is a very drinkable beer, somewhat like a well done home brew,which isn’t bad at all. Seems a little underrated IMHO.

A bomber from RCL in a trade, thanks Ray! Big dark rootbeer colored brew with a rocky alabaster head. Initial palate is roasty and creamy. Enjoyable yet mildly bitter and I normally don’t care for bitter beer. Has a building back of throat impact that certainly let’s you know this is some kinda dark beer alright. Impressions of wet, damp, old extinguished coals from a campfire that was out in the woods last week. Ass kicken example of a fresh dark beer!

Bottle from mcox90 and served in standard pint glass, thanks Michael!

Brown hue with a mostly lasting small head and left good lace on the glassware. The aroma has notes of walnut, chocolate, toasted malt, hint of piney and grassy hops, and a brief moment of lactic sourness. The taste has a mild chocolate tone over some toasted grains and acidic fruits. Grassy and a tad herbal bitterness throughout the flavor profile. The finish is a tad chalky and hints of coffee but is also a bit short but that was expected anyway. An easy to drink beer and worth an effort.

Tastes like either a really well-made black lager, or a so-so porter. Although there are interesting hints of complexity here and there, such as roastedness and cocoa backgrounds, it is surprisingly thin. Very smooth finish, but that is not appropriate for the flavors of the beer. Overall, not too impressive.

Brown pour. Off white head. Minimal nose with some malt. Dry finish with taste of malt. Nothing remarkable.