Berkshire Shabadoo Black and Tan Ale

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

On tap at Flatbread Co. Lighting was low, but had an attractive dark ruby-ish color. Smelled vaguely malty, sweet. Flavor was somewhat sweet too, but with roasted and dark/smoky notes in there subtly as well. Nothing too noteworthy though, just a thoroughly enjoyable beverage to enjoy with dinner.

22 oz bottle, via OldGrowth. Pours a clear chestnut colored body under a two finger foamy beige head. Pretty decent retention due to somewhat active carbonation. Aroma is pretty muted, some chocolate malt and very light roasted malt. Lighter notes of tobacco, smoke, and a husky graininess. Flavor is leaning to the roast side, but with significant chocolate malt presence as well. Light fruitiness as well with a moderately bitter finish. Mouthfeel is fairly thin with moderate fizzy carbonation and a drying finish. Overall, pretty middle of the road, but very drinkable because of the thinner body.

22oz bottle: Pours to a clear medium brown with a large light tan head that sticks around. The aroma is sweet grains, caramel, honey, and very light hops. The taste is grains, light bitter chocolate, mild citrus/grapefruit hops, light fruity yeast, but overall it seems a bit lacking in flavor. Light bodied, medium carbonated, watery.

22 oz bottle: A pure black pour. A decent aroma of sweet fruit and hops. They say this is a mix between their Berkshire Ale and the Draymans and I believe it. This has a very unusually fruity flavor to it. A traditional porter this is not. Like most of their beers this is dominated by malt with only a bit of hop to add balance. The body is about right for the style and it is very drinkable. Another unique brew from Berkshire.

(22 oz bottle: Obtained 24-Feb-06 in trade with Eyedrinkale, thanks Mike!) The first few sips reveal moderate roast, light chocolate and sweetness, and noticeable hops. But as the beer warms up, the chocolate picks up a bit in presence for a wonderfully balanced brew. This balance is echoed by the aroma, as plenty of chocolate and roast and hops engage the nose. Medium "plus" in body, moderately carbonated, smooth on the palate. Deep brown in color, and although almost opaque, it has a slight ruddy tint when held up to the light. The light-tan head lazily rises to maybe half an inch before lazily settling to a filmy layer. Bits of patchy lacing remain on the glass. I wasn’t all that fond of the beer when I first poured it, but after it spent several minutes warming up a bit, the beer really blossomed. Pretty solid for a beer called a Black & Tan.

This beer is a kind of beer that I rarely drink, a porter. This one is an exception. I drank it at the Montreal beer festival, it was so so good, the only probleme I cannot get it here.Bravo !

Clear reddish brown body with a large head. Aroma is caramel, roast, chocolate and a hint of fruit. Flavor is basically the same, but is a little more assertive. Light bitterness, medium bodied. It’s something different I guess.

Bottle. Pours a very deep hazy amber with a moderate off-white head. Aroma is lightly sweet. Flavor is lightly roasted malts and again some sweetness. I did not get any hops at all in this one. Sweeter than the typical black and tan.