$4.99 for the 22 oz bomber from Asheville Wine Market on the Brewgrass trip.
2009 Highland Cup Winner, look out for this in the GABF Pro-Am competition.
Poured into the Brewgrass sampler glass in small doses. Solid if unspectacular mahogany body with some nice lace left behind by the mocha head.
Nose has some solid, caramel sugary notes but a lack of much that one would call smoky. Sweetness comes through the more you sniff it.
Tastes are really quite significantly bitter but not in a really unpleasant way. If you were looking for extensive smoke content (which obviously one WOULD be given the presentation), I think that you may be a bit disappointed. The slightly charcoal bitterness was the main feature rather than much smoke. Plenty of roasty malts, but these come through in a stout bitterness kind of manner rather than the smoke angle. Definitely some bitter, bitter chocolate.
Putting aside the lack of real smoke content, this drank very nicely and had a slightly hoppy note which created a distinct bitterness. On a blind taste taste this would resister with my palate as a stout, and the creamy, soft note that I am looking for in my Porters was missing a little. In that respect there are American stamps all over it.
Think edgy, less sweet, less rich Tasgall.
Despite that, the drinkability was good and I enjoyed the beer, just don’t expect big “Rauch” content and you’ll probably enjoy it.