Go back to the earliest days of Rocks Brewing, before they'd even taken possession of their current site in Alexandria let alone started building the brewery and venue they now call home, and they had a porter in their lineup. The Butcher, long since retired, took the robust porters of England as its starting point; now, in 2023, their brewers have looked to the States for inspiration instead.
Their winter release is an American Porter, pouring black with a dreamy pillow of froth. Flavours and aromas are dominated by sweet biscuit malts, chocolate and coffee, creating a beer that can be approached two ways. For those not entirely sold on dark beers, know that when you sample this on tap the dry finish brings a crisp, sessionable quality that makes the beer more inclusive – the sort to entice doubters to the dark side.
Or, for the dark beer aficionados among you, settle in for a sip and take your time, allowing the flavour profile to change and those chocolate and caramel flavours to develop. Well-balanced, with subtle coffee aromas that linger and a medium bitterness, American Porter departs with a silky mouthfeel and is the sort of beer best enjoyed with cosy fireplace vibes. So, light a fire or, if needs be, put a YouTube video of logs crackling on your TV. You do you.
Kelsey Mortimer
Published June 29, 2023 2023-06-29 00:00:00
