Carlton Black

Brewed by Carlton & United Breweries (CUB)
Style: Porter
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Tasted this one about a year ago in Denmark, in the states South, and hadn’t seen it since, until the Ettamogah pub in Morley put it on Draught. Being an Aussie pub it was either this or another of CUB’s beers, so I knew what I had to do. Pours an opaque black with a tinge of brown in the lights. Frothy off-white cappuccino style head forms, and gives good length. Overly subtle nose with a hint of burnt malt, marmite and grassy hops. Similar in the mouth and equally subtle, gassy (I think their kegs are over pressurised) and thin bodied. A little chocolaty sweetness upfront, roasted grains throughout and into the slightly astringent, bitter swallow. The carbonic acid bite lasted and obscured things, but I did manage to down 4 or 5. Seemed to get better as it warmed, but as far as CUB go, this may well be in the top 5 of their generally awful range. Different from the rest and along par with Toohey’s Old. Seemed quite sessionable.

Tap at the Shakespeare, Surry Hills, NSW: Nice too see a new addition to the range at the Shakey. Black to very dark brown under lights with an unatural looking white head. Not much in the way of aromas but what there was reminded me of choc-coffee milk drinks. The flavour was an ever so slightly soured version of the aroma with much more prominent instant coffee notes. A nice change from their pale lager range but in need of some care and attention to quality. However, in terms of style I instantly thought of this as a porter so some credit is due there for producing something so stylistically recognisable.

It’s easy to compare this to the Toohey’s Old Black, as both are available readily on tap around Melbourne. However Carlton have done themselves an injustice with this difficult to drink version. I don’t often leave beer in the glass, but simply had to with this one. Ordinary at best.

Dark Brown in colouring with a thick off-white/tan head, which lasted for a good while. OK to drink ....... Similiar to Tooheys Old, but not as good. Hint of a malty, bitter, toffee flavour to it.

Like all CUB products you pretty much get the impression that they brew one big basic beer and just add the different components post fermentation. This one is pretty much the same but OK to drink compared to their other products. Not great but better than nothing.

Breakfast! Actually I had this one for breakfast since I ended up touring the Carlton United plant as soon as I woke up for some reason. Good times travelling. For coming from CU this really isn't too bad. A few of the average Aussies on the tour questioned why the hell anyone would drink anything other than Carlton Draught or VB, but even they could almost appreciate something different.

If I had to settle for a carlton product it would have to be this one, not saying this is great but the other’s are real crap. It was dark brown in colour with a light brown head that was mostly lasting. Light malt flavour, very little aroma, good lacing, light in body with a short finish. Re- Rate 24/06/05 Now out in a stubby but in a twist top this was basically as I remember it. Presentation is good, light coffee aroma, grainy malt taste as well as milky coffee and some bitterness though not enough for my liking.

On tap at Capital Golf Club. First I had ever heard of it. Tasted like a poor imitation of dark ale. Tooheys Old is 10 times better than this stuff.