Pisgah Cosmos

Brewed by Pisgah Brewing Company
Style: Baltic Porter
Black Mountain, North Carolina USA

From bottle, blind #30. Pours dark brown with a small tan head. Dry fruity and wooden aroma. Dry roasted malt flavoured. Light alcohol note and fruity touch. Vague smoke note. Light acidic and roasted flavoured finish with a lasting acidic impression.

Well carbonated. Some malt aroma. Flavor has some malt and wild yeast. a little fruit, but this is rather bland for a style of beer I usually enjoy. The high ABV is well hidden.

February 2008 batch, aged just over one year. Pours an extremely dark chocolate mahogany color that appears virtually black in the center. A thick, foamy, dark mocha colored head settles at a moderate pace, leaving a thin film with a prominent, ramped-up edge. Vertical flares of lacing mark the glass. Aromas include cocoa malts, figs, various dark fruits, burnt caramel, and vanilla. Traces of smoky molasses and sharp anise seed shows as well. Flavors are very much malt driven, with cola and molasses playing a huge role. Semi-dry cocoa, stewed figs, and raisins lend further fruity sweetness, while toasted, bready yeast adds a distinctly Belgian feel. Medium-full bodied but overly carbonated, the mouthfeel is substantial, but just a bit too fizzy for my liking. Decent brew, but lacking in several key areas.

Sampled at Backus’ Backyard Bash. Dark brwon with a brown head. Chocolate and fruit nose, chocolate flavor, but with a tinge of sourness that detracts. Would love to try this again.

MN Ratebeer Winter Gathering, January 10, 2009. Courtesy of Beastiefan2k. Black color with a medium head. Light licorice and roasted malt aroma. A little cardboardy flavor. Light roasted malt finish.

Sampled during MN Gathering II in Maplewood, MN from a 750 ml bottle, shared by Beastiefan. Pours a semi-clear brownish amber brew with a thin off-white head that slowly dissipates to a fine ring. Aroma of roasted dark malt, some chocolate, dark pitted fruits, brown sugar and a little yeast. Taste is medium to full bodied, with flavors of roasted dark malt, some tart berry, chocolate and a little alcohol presence. Finish is semi-tart followed by some alcohol and dark berry aftertaste.

Sampled at Bob (Skyview) tasting. The pour is brown in color with a light brown head. Sweet dark fruits combined with some banana. A touch of sour grapes I detect in the flavor. Also some off flavor that I can only describe as glue. Interesting beer, but not my cup of tea.

Thanks to Beastiefan. Brown pour with a light tan head. Sweet dark fruit aroma and chocolate. The flavors are chocolate, mild coffee, some fruit overtones and some bread. Good stuff.