Hambleton Nightmare (Bottle)

Brewed by Hambleton
Style: Porter
Ripon, England

500 ml. Nearly opaque mahogany with a half-inch of creamy lasting foam above. Nice frosting on the pint glass. Earthy-spiced chocolate, caramel, blackberry and raisin aroma is delicious. Flavor follows aroma but with some added dry-side ballast of hickory wood, ash and char. Nice aftertaste of cocoa, chalk and slight cherry. Medium-heavy body is one of the smoothest ever. This brilliant session beer is just watery enough to keep from being sticky and has a nearly chalky finish.

Dark brown color, coffee-like, nice. Liquorice aroma, a lot of malt, coffee. Balanced taste, round mouthfeel. Hoppy final, then with the roasted malt and caramel and liquorice.

Super dark brown nearly black color, thats favorably thick and rich, a tall one inch crown of light chocolate brown sits on top all smooth and lumpy much like a whipped frappucchino. Settles slowly down to leave a solid skim always present and the lace in thin sheets and of all kinds of inky blobs that have amazing sticking power. Aroma is heavenly roasted, just right, not to burnt, rich and welcoming with some excellent cocoa/chocolatey tones that maintain an acute drying sense within. Really nice at first but it seems to lose some of its power as it sits. Flavors are just right from becoming too mild with a favorable but lightly placed roasted malt tone thats substantially smooth. An ample chocolatey/cocoa creamy thickness lasts throughout each sip and gulp yeilding a bit of chocolatey sweetness over the top of the roasted bitterness. Its like a thick chocolate milk with some roasted coffeeness to it. Enticingly fine flavors that sit well across the palate. Feel is medium bodied with a light fluffy, almost chalky sense in a few areas that's very light, yet it continues to be smooth and creamy with a light finish that kinda drops out a bit. Could use a boost there, for most other porters that I like, thats where all the fun happens, in the finish. This fades out too quickly with a very light drying cocoa sweetness. Still, not a bad beer, not at all frankly, in fact its quite nice to behold, the overall smooth character and security of flavors sets it apart from most. One thing's for sure, that it's altogether drinkable and at 5% will make for a good session porter.

Bottle pours a deep dark color with hints of red through back light with a small head and small lace. The aroma is of roasted malt and chocolate with some warmth. The flavor starts out as a combination of sweetness, coffee, and chocolate. The flavor has a bit of smoky finish. The palate is outstanding; this has body. Overall, very, very nice.

I love this beer. Dark brown body, smooth, chocolate and vanilla. Very complex. Also had the bottled version which was less exciting but still wonderfull

I love this porter. Excellent chocolatey aroma with a tinge of roastiness. Flavor is more of the same: really smooth chocolateyness and a nice roasted finish. Dark brown-red with large solid head, heavy lacing. Overall just nice, and pairs well with food.

Nose of chocolate and coffee, and slight roasted malt. Pours clear brown with red highlights. Large light tan creamy head that is fully lasting with great lacing. Flavor starts sweet with moderate acidity and a nice long expresso bitter finish. Rich thick body is chewy and soft. The finish is moderately astringent. Exceptional.

pours on the browner side of the typical porter burgundy brown with a frothy tannish head which deposits a bunch of spots and drips of lace. there is a little ashiness and a tad bit of tartness behind a nose of cream, chocolate, black barley, wood, treacle and vanilla. there is a sourness in the mix akin to coffee but there is little to no actual coffee flavor?... very nutty, lots of roasted barley, molasses, wood, vanilla and a savory quality which must come from the yeast. it is a touch tart... but JUST a touch. the acidity and dryness are in perfect balance with the medium-full body and soft creamy mouth feel. the alcohol content is perfect for session (although i only found one of these and it wasn’t cheap!) and it is complex enough at room temperature to make me want to drink it all night. well put together... 8/4/8/4/18/4.2