Coast Range Maduro Porter

Formerly brewed at Coast Range Brewing Co.
Style: Porter
Gilroy, California USA

Dark reddish brown appearance, decent head formation. Light fruitiness and charcoaly aroma, fairly smokey. Dry, charred smokey flavor, dark chocolate, cocoa, a little fruity in the finish.

Nose is a luscious serving of chocolate and roasted malt. Appearance is dark black with small layer of head. The flavor is quite dull and barely gives a peak of the roasted malt and chocolate so plainly smelt in the aroma. And, a small intensity of a coffee caffeine taste is here as well. Little bit sticky and seriously feeling thin of a creaminess.

(22 oz bottle: $2.99 at BevMo in La Jolla, CA) I really like their IPA, and so my expectations were high for the Maduro Porter. Sadly, the porter is a mild disappointment. Perhaps my expectations were unrealistic? The nose is somewhat roasty, I suppose, definitely chocolaty, but it also has a readily apparent grainy, bready aroma, and for some reason is reminding me of oyster crackers. Like the aroma, the flavor isn’t all that roasty either. Mild roast, plenty of moderately sweet chocolate, and medium bitterness makes this a quaffable, but fairly pedestrian porter. Slight smokiness in the finish. The chocolate really takes over as the beer warms up. To it’s credit, the beer becomes more enjoyable as it warms toward room temperature and the sweet chocolate cajoles your appreciation. Medium body, lightly carbonated, mouthfeel is kind of like chocolate milk. Nearly black in color and fully opaque, except at the edges. Dark tan head pours to less than ¼ inch, and fades to a wide halo surrounding a broken sheen. Lacing is mostly just random polka dots on the glass. An easy drinker, but not terribly high caliber. Serve chilled, but not cold.

Bottle; Opaque with a fizzy but lasting head and very good lace. The aroma has notes of mocha, coffee, black panent malt, floral and aromatic hops and yeast esters, and a hint of prune. The taste starts mildly bittersweet and subdeued fruity notes. The finish is more bitter both from the hops and the coffee-like influence, a touch smoky and earthy too. The feel is fizzy and weak, chalky as well. Starts better than it finished but quaffable. I have had more than a few porter like this. Many thanks for the beers Joe.

Pours opaque brown with a tan head. This brew has a deep strong aroma. Smells like burnt toast and coffee (maybe I should have saved this brew for breakfast.) Flavors are fairly tame with respect to the aroma. Same burnt toast and coffee flavors, also quite dry and a bit acidic. Nice burnt malt aflavor lingers on the tongue for the finish. Full-bodied creamy mouthfeel. I’ve only had a few CR brews but I am already a fanatic of this brewer. I can’t wait to try their IPA next.

A pleasant roastiness on the nose w/ malty sweetness and a bread note. The flavor was roast and a hint of coffee w/ slight chocolate and citrus notes. The beer poured a nice black color w/ brownish hues, thin lasting head and lasting lacing. The mouthfeel was creamy and well-rounded w/ a full body.

Aroma is heavy on roasted malts, chocolate, and espresso. Body is a black with little head forming at the top. Taste is pretty standard issue for a porter, heavi coffee and chocolate, with undertones of caramel.

Bottle. Pours dark brown and opaque with a small tan head that diminishes quickly to a ring of bubbles. Nice aroma, lots of roasted malts, chocolate and coffee with hints of herbal and floral hops. Roasty, sweet and slightly bitter flavor with a bit of a metallic finish. Medium body and creamy carbonation. Overall quite pleasant.