Shipyard Brewers Choice Special Ale Honey Porter (2007)

Formerly brewed at Shipyard Brewing Company
Style: Porter
Portland, Maine USA

@ blind tasting - Thin red brown body, lasting beige head; Thin licorice port wine cherry fruity nose; Huge carbonation in a bit thin slightly harsh bitter body; Rue bread thin harsh body, muddy clay like aromas.

Bottle from Systembolaget. Well, I picked up no honey.. so without that - this is just another porter - nothing exceptional.

Bottle at Bager’s - Thanks Jørgen !! Dark deep red/brown/amber - offwhite head. LIght metallic, roasted, grainy, sweetness, not much honey. Not much "Porter" - I am sorry Jørgen i find this thin and boring !!!

(355 ml bottle from Systembolaget) Labeled 6.2% ABV. Particle filled dark brown color, small tan head. Sweet, fruity, roasted and grainy scent. Sweet, roasted but rather boring taste. Rather spritzy mouthfeel, medium bitterness. Sweet and grainy roasted aftertaste.

Bottle. [#29 Blind tasting session @ Sk8viking] Average beige and frothy head that mostly diminished. Fair display of lacework. Aroma of sweet chocolate, coffee, roasted malt. Medium bodied with a flat carbonation. Moderated sweet malty flavor with light bitterness. Sweet malty finish. 07-09-2007

Aroma: First noticable smell is a pretty mediocre, hoppy smell, but within a second there is a very apparent flowery honey aroma which is actually quite nice and balances up the hops. Beneath this there is a sweetish malt and wort aroma, reminiscent of Anchor Our Special Ale, yet not remotely as good. Raisins, dark rye bread, and the sweet flowery honey aroma all suit the caramel sweetness so well. There is something almost childish about the quality of the scent and I like it; in fact, the acrid spikes of hops and dark malt is somehow charming.
Appearance: A very dark, yet clear, red hue, like black currant juice. The head is beige and looks pretty standard, diminishes quickly but leaves a slowly fading film of creamy foam.
Flavour: The flavour is surprinsingly mild and creamy. The malt was not as robust as I expected. The honey sweetness is really far from cloying, in fact, this beer isn’t particuarly sweet although the aroma gives the impression it’s actually sweeter. There sure is a distinct sweetness there, but not beyond what is standard for a porter. The honey gives the beer a very round and lilac-like flavour. A light afterflavour and aroma of somewhat old or boiled milk and barley. A boiled afterflavour; not a positive thing. There is also something vaguely sourish going on, in a british kind of way, it’s not bad, but it just adds to the feel that the beer is somewhat old.
Mouthfeel: I think the mouthfeel is pretty smooth and oily. Maybe the honey-aroma keeps the focus off the mouthfeel but I just can’t pin down anything special about it. It’s just a typically fluffy, viscous beer with medium carbonation.

Bottle. Dark brown coloured with a beige ehad. Light roasted aroma of fruits and liquorice. Light roasted flavour of liquorice, malts and caramel.

Bottle. A dark red brown beer with a beige head. The aroma is of corn, apples and fruits, so is the taste. Medium body with a dry finish.