Upstream Espresso Porter

This was called Vanilla Espresso Porter, bu surely this was the same beer. The body was black with an orange tan colored head. The aroma was strong espresso with some dark chocolate notes. Strong roast and soybeans were also apparent. The taste was up front with its strong roast coffee. There were hints of plum and dark chocolate. This had a nearly burnt tasting finish at first, that got better. As I drank more, I got hints of the vanilla. A medium body. Certainly for strong coffee lovers.

Handbottled. Pours silky and black with a thin rim of grayish tan foam. Sweet, unique aroma of coconut milk, soy milk, and pistachio; almond, vanilla and caramel with only a hint of espresso bitterness, like a sweetener-suffocated latte. Quiet hints of glue and sawdust. Tastes mainly of angel food cake with caramel and strawberries; lots of light, airy sweetness that seems out of place by a vast distance. Powdered sugar on cinnamon toast, coconut, and some mild red apple flavor. Palate is empty and thoroughly undercarbonated; milky, weak, and loose. Burnt caramel and the dark, fruity sweetness of fresh espresso blossoms slowly in the finish, drying out with the feeling of waxpaper and apple peel. This might be slightly spoiled, but its intended direction is a weird and interesting one, and it seems that if very fresh this might be a great example of successful marriage of coffee and malt. Thanks Ty!

Growler from Valpoaj. Black with no head and minimal carbonation. The aroma was of what coffee, and light band aid. The taste was of coffee and light sweet chocolate. Got MUCH better as it warmed. However, that bandaid note kept showing up.

On tap at the Legacy Brewpub, 2/25/06: Nice black color with a good solid, sticky head. Delicious light coffee flavor with a sweet milky consistency. Excellent.