New South Dark Star Porter

Brewed by New South Brewing Company
Style: Porter
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina USA

Date: 04/12/2008
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewfest, Hickory Hops

Appearance: clear dark brown with ruby highlights, fine tan head, streaks of drippy lace,
Aroma: sweet dark caramel and chocolate aroma,
Flavor: rich chocolate flavor, dark caramel sweetness brings out the chocolate, light balancing bitterness stays out of the way and lets the malt stay in control,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 12/20
Rating: 3.1/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: *4

Ha, I just realized this was the second "Dark Star" beer I tried at the WBF in Raleigh... buncha deadheads brewers... anyway, this was lighter than expected, both in appearance and on the palate. Creamy head. Hops and vanilla on the nose and palate. A little hoppy, I think, and not the most accurate porter, but not bad.

Sampled at the WBF. The pours is blackish brown with a tan head. The aroma was chocolaty, had some coffee, lightly hoppy. The flavor was a little watery, sweet, waxy, lightly roasty.

draught @ Barley’s Greenville. Pours opaque brown, near black, with a firm tan head. There are no serious problems in the nose like cola or butter aromas. Rather, I detected some smoke, burned cacao, and hints of cookies. The flavor is very burned and bitter with minimal ashiness. This needs a bit more depth, but to my surprise, proved to be a pretty good, tart porter.

draught @ saucer: spicy roast aroma with a hint of fruit. black with a creamy off white head. the flavor is spicy, clovey mutmeg, coffe with a lil fruitiness. kinda sour and some licorice on the end. not all that great

On tap at the Flying Saucer in Charlotte. Yikes! This is a porter? I was thinking brown ale or something like that... in that case, this is way too light and sour. There needs to be way more chocolate or roastiness in the flavor.

On tap at Barley’s Taphouse in Asheville, NC. This is a very fast taste. I think it is too tart for a porter. A black beer with a brown head. Nice lacing. Mildew taste that lingers on the back of the tongue.