New Albanian Bobs 15B Porter

Brewed by New Albanian Brewing Company
Style: Porter
New Albany, Indiana USA

Name: Old 15 B
Date: 04/26/2007
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub

opaque brown, wispy tan head, streaks of lace, light sweet dark caramel malt aroma, rich dark chocolate and dark caramel flavor, lots of earthy bitterness, only a touch of sweetness with the caramelized sugars, touch of alcohol and fusels in the finish,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 2.9/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

Draft at NABC. Poured a black hue with a moderate off-white head that diminished slowly with fair lacing. Good porter aroma. Moderate flavor with solid finish. Good surprise.

Sampled at the Great Taste of the Midwest 2005. Very dark, almost black body. The aroma is roasted coffee and some cinnamon toast. The taste is rich dark chocolate and some coffee. Finishes a little grassy. A decent porter.

On tap at NABC: Reddish brown with a small tan head and some lace. The aroma hints of roasted and nutty malts, mocha, grassy and aromatic hops, slightly smoky, and dusty yeast esters. The taste starts with a bittersweet mocha and nutty tone with additional lactic twang and smoke. The finish displays a coffee hint and bitterness. The mouthfeel is sharp and lively. Good traditional styled porter.

On tap at the brewpub. Black with a light beige head. A pretty good porter, but tastes mostly like a homebrew kit porter. Slightly tangy. This place is awesome (Rich-O’s Public House) and it’s easy to get swept up in the ambiance of great beer on tap. This just isn’t one of them.

On tap at Rich O’s Publick House during RBSG Road Trip 2007. Called Old 15-B. Dark black body with a small creamy tan head. Sweet roasted malt and caramel aroma. Sweet roasted malt and chocolate flavor.

Draught at the brewpub. Opaque black with a short, lacing beige head. Sweetish aroma is faint and vaguely herby. Taste is mildly bitter and very dry with licorice and subtle dark chocolate. Body is full and malty. Aftertaste tinged with beginning sweetness but otherwise dry. Subtle, complex session!

I had guessed this to be an Old Ale rather than a Porter, and indeed, it tasted like one. A compliment, I think.

Draft: Midnight ruby. Clumpy gray-tan head. Deeply roasty, butter toffee aromas. Coffee beans and shoe polish awaken as it warms. Texture has a brisk hardness. Fuzzy carbonation. Dryly chalky and earthily roasty upfront, with softening dabs of vanilla and buttery malt husks. Burnt toffee hints appear late. Mild bittersweet chocolate flavor imparts a dash of astringency. Black malt yields loads of burnt cookie flavors, which only adds to the hardness. Deeply rooted earthy roast pungency lifts the softer molasses aspects, but the meatiness remains. Long finish of bittersweet chocolate-dipped prunes and an earthy malt-derived dryness. Bit too buttery aroma and overly fuzzy texture. This isn’t quite up to snuff with past versions, but it’s not bad, either.