Free State Black Jack Porter

Brewed by Free State Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Strong Porter
Lawrence, Kansas USA

Dark brown/black, khaki head. Roasty, chocolate nose with some lactic notes and later, when it warmed up, some great, floral hops notes. Taste is chocolate milk, roasted dark malt with some floral hop character midway, and finishing with hops. The beer is not at all bitter, but it has a subtle hop aromas and flavor when it is served and as it warms, they come out to play and really take control of the beer. It was great to enjoy this beer over 30 minutes. Great mouthfeel, it is very "full." I was excited to hear FS was brewing a baltic porter and it looks they they did it right on their first try. Also, I asked the brewer about the alcohol content and he said it was around 7.5%.

Growler shared with theisti. Pours black with a creamy, light tan head that laces nicely as it diminishes to a thin wispy skin at the surface. The nose is chocolaty with notes of roasted malt, vanilla and some subtle dark fruit. Medium-bodied and super-slick with a fairly clean, roasted finish. Sweet and slightly tart dark roast and chocolate with a pleasant, roasted and lightly dry finish. This is another great beer from Free State. Nice work, Steve.

Growler generously shared by Gregis. Poured into a snifter. Pour is mostly black with a nice one inch head. Very pretty in the glass. Aroma of soft roastiness, with a faint approachable sweetness - maybe dried cherries? Some vanilla notes present as well. Nice, not as bold and in your face as others I have had, though certainly in a good way. Taste is really mellow and soft, great roastiness, sweet dark cocoa, and woody vanilla oakiness. Great flavor, everything is nicely blended together. Nice drying finish. This was really excellent - great stuff. Thanks for sharing this one Greg!

(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.

This is one of my favorite styles and this would be one of the shining examples of this. The oak againg is especially present, with a mellow smokiness that medls into some woody vanilla notes, but not to be overdone by the roastiness of the malts the creaminess of the chocolate and some bready fruity esthers as well. Just a hint of molasses, candy and brownsugar with just a bit of licorice in the finish. A truly fine beer

Tap @ FS; pours a dark black, thin tan head and great lacing. Roasty aroma of chocolate, molasses and espresso. Taste is a thick mouthfeel that provides a nice coating of malts that lingers. A nice take on a baltic porter! **Rerate, 03/28/2008, bumped it up after trying again this year, good as ever, and seemingly a bit more depth of character this time around. Good stuff!**

Dark, roasty, sweet and fruity aroma, some semi-sweet chocolate and cream along with notes of fruity hops, faint bourbon and caramel. Ebony in color with deep brown highlights, a fine creamy head and intricate lacing. Flavor profile is full, balanced and moderately complex with a hefty amount of dark malt sweetness up front, turning roasty and darkly fruity and finishes with a blend of lightly bitter tones and the omnipresent dark malt. Palate is smooth, expansive and gently warming with a full, rich body. An unmistakably American interpretation and a very tasty, well-executed beer overall.

Golden-tinged blacked amber rimmed with frothMolasses, charcoal, black pepper sting in aroma. Dark chocolate with touch of cinnamon. Wonderful mocha finish.