Redhook Blackhook Porter

Brewed by Redhook Brewery
Style: Porter
Woodinville, Washington USA

I’ll say it: I may not drink the wares of this brewery all too often, but I miss the stubby bottles, dammit, and I miss the classic, black labeling. I do! But, how’s the beer doing? As for BlackHook Porter.. Appearance: fully black color, with a nice, tight, 1/2" cocoa/brown ring of foam. Aroma: soft and creamy, slightly nutty, but not much else. Nice malty touches. Taste: crisp, vibrant, but altogether smooth on the palate, but a bit too much so, methinks. A porter ought to give out more flavor than this one, and it’s holding back. Toasty, and tasty, but much milder than I can enjoy. Full-bodied, with coffee-ish tinges, but never rich enough for me. A bit too thin, I say. Not a terrible porter, but not terribly good, either!

One of the darkest porter’s i’ve seen...absolutely beautiful with a fair amount of tan/brown head. Nice toasty hops flavor...a fantastic porter.

On draft under nitrogen at the Flying Saucer in Memphis. Beautiful pour, thick lasting head. A "baby" dry stout, mildly roasted, crisp finish.

[nitro draft - MacGregor’s - Henrietta, NY] Not to be confused with the MacGregor’s in Rochester, NY, this one has over 100 beers on tap. Dark black color with a thick and lasting tan head. Smooth roasted malt and chocolate aroma. Very rich and creamy chocolaty malt flavor with a slight hoppy twinge at the end.

Way too hoppy for my taste. I usually like the complex malty notes characteristic of porters but this was all burnt malt and bitter hops.

Sampled at Denver International Airport in a really smoky bar. Deep brown color, typical creamy head from a nitro tap. Creamy texture up front, then a brown-ale like spicyness and a little hop bite in the finish. So cold it makes me shiver... a bit of a gritty texture, some creamy malts and a milk flavor as well. Nose is a light cream with some tobacco, but who can call that one in a smoky bar.

Dark translucent ruby-brown body and light tan head. Grapey aroma plus dark-roasted malts. Flavor has that same unusual grape quality plus coffee, roast and a note of hops. I like the roast/acid balance in this. Not great but better than anticipated.

Pours a deep, deep brown, light black. Head is tall with bigger bubbles, and quickly fads. Laces well. Nose is full and rich, the roast dominating, some fruitiness, earthiness, and hops in the background. Lots of coffee in the nose. Taste doesn’t quite live up to the nose. It’s roasty and dark but a bit thin, not much of finish either. Kind of like a tea that teases you with a great smell but doesn’t deliver on flavor