Great Dane Black Earth Porter

9/05/2009: Great Dane Black Earth Porter... Aroma: Roasty malts with some chocolate; may be slightly burnt/acidic. Appearance: Definitely BLACK, opaque; small foamy tan-colored head. Flavor: Hints of chocolate, coffee-like; some minerals; kind of cheesy or slightly burnt. Palate: Medium body; soft and mellow mouthfeel. Overall: Decent and mostly traditional.

Draught (CASK) at The Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co. in Madison (Hilldale), Wisconsin. Rating #70 for this beer.

(Draught) Pours an opaque black body with an average-sized tan head. Aroma of roasted malt, coffee, and some smoke. Flavor of roasted malt, smoke, dark chocolate, caramel, coffee, and ash.

Imperial draft, downtown Madison location. Black with a beige head. Mild, neutral open fermenter carbonation feel, a touch watery. Lots of roasty chocolate malt taste. Tasty, but a tad thin.

On tap at the Fitchburg location - This is what a porter should look like--deep black with a big frothy head. The head is gone quick, but I’m already on to the aroma. It’s anice blend of coffee, roasty malt and lactose. The taste starts smooth with coffee and chocolate, but transitions into a deep roast taste that’s just too much. It’s almost burnt. Overall, it’s imperfect, but drinkable and full of flavor. It’s creamy in the mouth, but just a little watery. A lot of Great Dane’s beers underwhelm, but this is one of my faves.

Another solid british-style ale from these guys - intense roastiness is balanced and complimented by rich chocolate flavors and a tiny bit of hops - a bit vinous on the back end - medium-bodied - not too heavy, but not entirely sessionable either - a well-made porter.

Pours black with a tall tan head, leaving a moderate lace. Rich aromas of smoke and chocolate. On the flavor, the smoke and chocolate are joined by a delicious cereal component of wort and oatmeal, with fruit and hops to round out the flavor profile. Very thick, smooth body. Delicious and satiating.

Sampled on draught at the downtown Madison, Wisconsin brewpub. Pours an opaque dark brown brew with a light tan head that slowly dissipates to a tan ring. Aroma of toasted and smoked black malt, some light chocolate, coffee and a hint of roasted nuts. Taste is medium bodied, lightly carbonated with flavors of toasted/smoked dark malt, some chocolate, coffee and some floral hops. Finish has a mild toasted dark malt and chocolate aftertaste that slowly disappears.

Black, a little cloudy, with great lacing. Tastes Guinness-like with chocolate, coffee, smoke. Creamy and characterful, long finish, tons of flavour. Really nice.