Carolina Winter Porter

Brewed by Carolina Brewing Company
Style: Porter
Holly Springs, North Carolina USA

From a bottle purchased at the brewery; I’d also sampled on draft at the brewry. Dark reddish borwn with a thin, relatively quickly disappearing head. The aroma is awesome ... like a fresh brewed cup of espresso. That java is definitely in the first sample of flavor, too, but mellows as you go. Nice little bitterness to it, too. Think this is an underrated gem. (#2836, 5/4/2007)

Usual CBC seasonal label with a dot-matrixed "Bot on 11/1/06". And purchased at the brewery 11/3/06. And consumed (well, at least one of them) also on 11/3/06. Fresh! Pours a rich cola color with an enormously fluffy khaki head. Ruby highlights when backlit. Tremendous lacing involved. Looks fabulous. Heady aromas of roasted malts, deep cocoa, and green hops. The varying waft of wet smoke lingers as well. Roasty malt flavors. The wet smoke flair rears its head even more so here. Raw green hoppiness. Cocoa powder provides a smidge of sweetness, then the rough-n-tumble hoppiness batters it about and finishes chalky. Dry and powdery aftertaste. Modest mouthfeel. Quite drinkable. A case is in my possession; it’ll be interesting to see if the green hops mellow out over the winter.

Roasty aroma. Thin head with not much retention. I can taste black malt or barley. Has nice burnt flavor that adds to bitterness. Malty and delicious. Only complaint is that it is a little on the dry side and would like more alcohol.

Another NC treat courtesy of Oldgrowth! Very dark brown/ruby color with a barely-there head. Smells pretty groovy... smoky chocolate with a little sweetness, reminiscent of maple syrup. Interesting taste... It seems far more bready and yeasty than most porters. Malt flavor is bone dry. No hoppiness at all. Not an outstanding beer, but a very nice and unique porter. Props!

12oz bottle from surffisher! - thanks Vic! - Pours dark brown with a short offwhite head that fades back quick and leaves scant lace. Aromas of roasted malts, coffee, and some dark chocolate. Flavor is dominated by dark chocolate notes, but there is also a good roasty presence that balances it out. I got a little caramel as well and maybe a little molasses. Good carbonation and a soft mouthfeel. Not a bad porter..

Bottle from OldGrowth. Pour was full brown color, clear body, nice head and lacing. The aroma was roasted coffee, light chocolate. The flavor followed the aroma, coffee strikingly nice at times, less impressive at others, but overall decent. The caramel, nutty roastedness behind it all made for a nice, yet simplistic brew. Thanks, Tom, a decent one.

thanks to bakes for this brew> Pours dark, clear amber. Forms a small head that hangs around. good lacing. Smell is interesting. malty, and fizzy(?).Tate is good, malty, and a little hops. a touch of fizz in it. Solid brew, but not great.

Dark brown pour with a frothy tan head. Roast, coffee, and malts on the nose. Caramel, nuts, and coffee.