MacTarnahans Blackwatch Cream Porter

Brewed by Portland Brewing Company (Pyramid)
Style: Porter
Portland, Oregon USA

It looked nice, had a decent head, but aroma and flavor take hits for being too heavy on the smoke and wood. We’re talking, the trunks you wore to the beach bonfire smoke and wood. It was also a little heavy on the coffee and bitters. This is not a typical beer or porter, and that’s a strong point. But it just isn’t balanced and I imagine it would clash with some foods quite badly. Your experience may vary.

Has a very dark brown color with some carbonation and a thick tan head. Smell is of roasted malts. Taste is medium bodied roasted malt and finishes with a good bitter kick. Overall a fine porter.

Bottle: Smooth beer with a nice balance, decent head and finishes well (not overly sweet or bitter)

This porter pours with a black body topped by a thick tan head with a good amount of lacing. The aroma is bitter, coffeeeish and full of roasty notes with a slight sweetness underneath. The flavor is slightly sweet but mostly bitter and roasty with a slight coffee note. Reminds me of the taste cigarette smoke leaves in your mouth. Yuck! Medium to full bodied and relatively smooth.

This is an absolutely awesome cream porter. Delicious notes of creme soda, coffee, and chocolate. Bitter finish. Just lovely!

Pours a deep black with ruby hues around the edges when held to light. Has about an inch of creamy white head. Smell is roasted malts and espresso. Taste is delicious dark roast coffee, that's bitter and has a nice slightly sour finish. Mouthfeel is creamy but slightly thin. Drinkability is pretty high for a deep roasted brew like this.

Chocolate, Caramel, and Coffee in the aroma. Head is small, light mocha color, dissapates quickly. Really is rather thin for a porter, and leaves much to be desired. Slighty watery, tastes of bitter chocolate, and coffee. My main critisism is how thin the beer is. The cask aged one must be better, I will have to pick it up soon.

This cream porter pours pitch black with a small white head. The head dissipates quickly and the lacing is minimal, unfortunately. The aroma is chocolate malt... ya, pretty much just that. Taste is watery, then roasty malt, and bitter chocolate and roasty out the back. Body is thin for a porter. Overcarbonated as well. Kinda bland, which is unfortunate. COuld be a great beer if it was turned up a few notches- which I assume the aged version is. I'll have to try that.