For this #beersaturday post allow me to start with a beer that I drank at a brew pub in my area.
Its a Porter from Blackbird Brewery: 4.2% ABV and 23 IBU. Dark chestnut brown with a light tan colored head. Pint size served in a large German pub style glass stein with company logo printed on it. Light roasted notes of cocoa and toffee. Nice texture and a fresh clean taste that you only get from drinking a beer directly at the site that it's produced. This was my first time trying one of their beer but overall I really enjoyed it during my lunch on a saturday. I would visit the brewery again to try more for sure.
Okay, now on to my at home beer reviews, this time - Night Themed!!! Okay relax, don't get too excited about the theme - I drank them at night and they both reference the Night in their labels. That's about the extent of their relation to the theme. Nonetheless, let's take a look.
Black Light All Night Stout
Brewery: Nickel Brook Brewing Co
Origin: Burlington ON Canada
Style: American Stout
Abv: 4.5%
Marketing: Dark can, bold lettering, clever name and very cool design imagery of a moth flying into the moon. The image gives the appearance that it would look really cool under and actual black light as the name suggests. Definitely fits in with the Night theme. Good amount of info on the back of the can listing malt types and hop varieties used. Beer info is always welcome.
Color: Poured very dark, black even, with a flimsy mocha colored head that dissipated almost instantly as it was poured.
Nose: Strong cocoa aroma coming through. My wife is making curry as I write this and that's all I can smell at the moment. The curry scent is getting stuck in the glass so I can't differentiate the aromas of the beer unfortunately.
Taste: Strong taste of cocoa and roasted malt flavors. Very balanced with a mildly sweet, tangy, and bitterness all in equal portions.
Texture: Small weak bubbles give this beer a watery mouthfeel almost like a Nitro.
Impression: I quite liked this beer. It has a decent amount of taste but isn't overpowering in any way so it's very drinkable. I would buy again for sure.
I drank this beer at dinner with some Butter Chicken and it was a great pearing. The bitterness of the beer contrasted nicely with the sweet of the curry sauce. All around a great beer for the night or evening.
Chocolate Stout
Brewery: Bobcaygeon Brewing Co
Origin: Peterborough, ON Canada
Style: Chocolate Stout
Abv: 6.3%
Marketing: Very simple can design, black with white lettering, Loon mascot and cottage country imagery. Fading tree forest scene at night makes one think of viewing the forest across the water in the moonlight. I like the can but I wish it had more information about the beer listed on it.
Color: Poured ink black, dark as night, with a mocha colored head of loosely packed bubbles. The head dissipated rapidly and I had to really hustle to take a photo of the bubbles before they all disappeared.
Nose: Cocoa, roasted notes, smoke.
Taste: Bold taste. starting mildly sweet and a little tangy almost, not a lot of bitterness, and a quick finish. I noticed some chocolate flavors in the background. Overall it almost reminded me of a light Imperial Stout. I quite liked the taste.
Texture: Light on the carbonation side of things, with a smooth texture and velvety mouthfeel. I found it to be medium bodied.
Impression: I quite liked the beer overall. I found it to be very bold in flavor and great for after dinner or a late evening night cap.