Beer 3 Ravens Robust Porter

With their Dark and Stout becoming lesser spotted beasts these days, 3 Ravens have been a little light on the dark beers. With an event featuring nothing but to mark the winter solstice taking place at the brewery and many pubs after a darker winter offering, they came up with this, the Robust Porter.

It's as you might expect such a beer to be: nigh on black, with plenty of coffee aromas (although no coffee added) and dark chocolate throughout. Inspired by Deschutes' Black Butte and featuring the recently revived Melbourne ale yeast, it's fuller and creamier in body than some porters you'll have come across yet traditionally-minded, with a drying, roasted finish tying up the pieces.

James Smith