Free State Black Jack Porter

Growler courtesy of Beastiefan2k, thanks Eugene. Poured a clear dark brown nearly black with a small lingering brown head. Aromas of carmel, roastiness, coffee, bitter chocolate and vanilla. Palate was medium bodied and smooth. Flavors of coffee, carmel, roastiness, vanilla and light chocolate with a smooth lingering roasty bitter finish.

Draught at GABF 2008. Almost black - brown head. Vegetables, lactose, burned, berries, caramel, roasted, coffee, chocolate. A bit plain and simple.

Draught at GABF 2008. Black coloured with a meidum sized beige head. Roasted aroma of caramel, chocolate and hops. Roasted flavour of coffee, chocolate and hops. Roasted finish.

GTMW! Black with a small tan head. Rich caramel and peat aroma. Flavor had tons of peat, smoky tobacco, caramel, and chocolate. Mildly bitter finish.

GTMW ’08. Poured an opaque black color with a tan soapy head. Lager-ish, bottom fermented aroma with chocolate and subdued anise elements. Slightly sweet and medium bodied with some mild bitterness at the end. Tasted of brown sugar, roasty malt, and some baker’s chocolate. Decent, but not a show stopper.

Sampled at the Savor DC event. While I was waiting in line to try this someone in front of me asked what style of beer this was. The head brewer himself replied, "it’s a Baltic stout." So I asked him whether is was a Baltic Porter or a Stout, he again repeated, "Baltic stout." What the hell does that mean? Anyways, pours a deep, oily black with a thick, creamy white head. Slight roasted, chocolate aroma. Flavor has licorice, chocolate, nuts, toasted grains and some dried fruits. I don’t want to pigeon hole a beer, but maybe they should decide whether they are brewing a Baltic Porter or an Imperial Stout.

(Savor, draft) Persistent tan head atop brown-black body. Aroma is medium sweet, chocolate, raisin, roast, light coffee. Taste is medium sweet, chocolate/coffee, roast, some raisin, cherry. Smooth medium body. For me, the highlight of the event. I actually got someone to curse me out for suggesting he go try it -- he enjoyed it so much that he was pissed he wouldn’t be able to get it again.

Draft sample pours very dark brown with a small tan head. Inviting, complex nose of nuts, dry hops, smoke, char and heavy roast, and the body is meaty, dry, toasty and full. Nice mixture of charred chocolate and roast along with a nut and burnt fruit flavor. Very nice.