The Brü Revü – Karbach Hellfighter

I picked this up on a quick work trip to Houston about 2 years ago and promptly put it in the beer fridge where it sat forgotten until now!  The Hellfighter is Karbach’s Imperial Porter that is the base to all of their outstanding Bourbon Barrel vintages that I have yet to try. The beer poured a pitch black with a large and spongy tan head that left good lacing and a lingering ring.  The nose was very sweet and fruity for a porter with a tinge of bittersweet chocolate to round out the dark fruit and dried cherry notes in the aroma.  The taste started off with a burnt chocolate bitterness that quickly faded into the dark fruits and sweet malts.  This thick and creamy brew finished with a roasty bitterness that was palate coating and begged to be extinguished with another sip. The Hellfighter was a very smooth brew that seemed to mellow after 2 years although it still had a lot going on with a depth and complexity that would lend itself well to Karbach’s frequent Bourbon Barrel Aging. Now I need to seek out the Aged version as I would love to see the effects of the Bourbon Barrels on a beer that was as robust as the Hellfighter.  

Karbach Hellfighter

The Brü Revü – Smuttynose Robust Porter

My second beer from Smuttynose was their Robust Porter, which is usually a stronger, hoppier and/or roastier version of a typical porter.  The beer poured with a thick tan head and the beer itself was a pitch black that foreshadowed an intense and rich drinking experience. The aroma was heavy on the coffee and dark chocolate notes with a tinge of sweet malts.  The taste was resolutely robust with a deep and full roasted malt flavor that was slightly sweet but full of chocolate and slight hints of coffee.  The deep chocolate and coffee notes became more pronounced as it warmed along with the sweetness. The creamy and smooth body left a lingering burnt roasty bitterness on my palate which quickly disappeared with each sip.  The Robust Porter was a bountiful and complex porter that lived up to the Robust moniker.   Another great brew from Smuttynose.

Smuttynose Robust Porter

The Brü Revü – Hops and Grain Porter Culture

First off, this can is sexy.  It took me a while to get this ravishing can in my beer fridge, but now my fridge is totally hip. A Baltic Porter from the great Hops and Grain brewery in Austin and once again they hit it out of the park.  The beer poured a pitch black with a decent tan head that left generous lacing.  The aroma was full on sweet malt with a slight roast and little to no hop presence.  Sweet chocolate and coffee hits you right out of the gate that transitions into a roasted malt that leaves a lingering malty bitterness on your palate.  I got hints of smoke deep in the roast, but this brew truly highlights the malts.  The Porter Culture was another highly drinkable brew and a full flavored and deep bodied Baltic porter.  Very clean and refined and everything you want out of a Texas porter.  I will be keeping a few of these in my fridge from now on, even if its just to raise the level of sexy.  With Zoe, the Greenhouse IPA series and now Porter Culture, Hops and Grain are on a roll.

Hops and Grain Porter Culture

The Brü Revü – Founders Porter

I have been waiting to savor the Founders Porter for a while and I finally had the chance.  The beer poured a deep dark brown to black with a subtle tan head.  At that point I allowed it to sit and warm as I knew it would improve.  Once I returned I was rewarded with aromas of deep dark chocolate, sweet malts and a hint of coffee. The first taste was a deep roast with full chocolate and coffee that end in a subtle bitterness.  The Porter was a velvety smooth and sublime beer that is a porter for all porters to be measured.  I was impressed with the depth and fullness of the brew and how quickly it disappeared in my glass.  The Founders Porter was one of the best porters I have had and an impressive beer for their year round lineup.  Each Founders beer I try keeps raising the bar.

Founders Porter

Beer Bums Meeting – March 2014 – Porters and Stouts

Porters and Stouts turned into a great theme for March.  It has been very cold of late so these went along perfectly with the weather.  A very good group of beers with the Southern Tier Choklat a nice treat.

Founders Porter

Green Flash Double Stout

Firestone Walker Velvet Merlin

Leinenkugel’s Snowdrift Vanilla Porter

Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro

Southern Tier Choklat

Next Month, April – Easter Beers

The Brü Revü – (512) Brewing Company 5th Anniversary Party

I try to never miss the (512) Anniversary Party and I always have a great time.  This year was no exception.  It was a great way to kick of Austin Beer Week and turned into a really well done and organized event.  You could easily get a core beer at any one of their numerous tents, and while the line for the “special beers” got long it moved quickly and efficiently.  I really enjoyed the selection at the “Special Beer” tent with the highlights being the Whiskey Barrel Aged Double Pecan Porter 2012 and 2013 on tap and the Stingo.

(512) FIVE - Their Anniversary beer was an Imperial Stout and it was tasty. It was full of heavy roasted malts and a bit of chocolaty goodness and dark fruits to boot.  Underneath it all I kept thinking I tasted some similarities to the Pecan Porter, but definitely bigger and bolder.  Well done!

(512) Whiskey Barrel Aged Double Pecan Porter - They had the 2012 and 2013 versions and I opted for the 2012.  So good.  Just a perfect beer that highlights their Pecan Porter. Nutty, chocolate, vanilla and whiskey barrel goodness.

(512) FOUR - On Firken with something added, but I didn’t catch what it was.  I really liked their FOUR from last year, but this was just OK for me.  It could have been because it had to follow the Barrel Aged Pecan Porter.

(512) Pecan Porter on Nitro - The only way to drink the Pecan Porter.  Thick, creamy and delicious.

(512) Stingo - I was looking forward to the Stingo.  It’s their FOUR barrel aged for a year on American Oak and dry hopped.  Wow!  It was good.  Lot’s of woody barrel character with a dry finish.  Tart and tangy with wine like flavors and some vanilla smoothness.  Unique and complex.

(512) THREE - I am a sucker for a good trippel and this one was great.  I little different than most of their offerings but just as good nonetheless.  I wish it was available more often so I could drink it again and again.

(512) Pecan Porter with pumpkin spices through a pumpkin keg.  It was surprisingly good as I didn’t think I would like the pumpkin spices.  They caramelized the inside of the pumpkin then added cranberries and spices.  Very good way to finish the day.

The Brü Revü – Baltika 6 Porter

I have often seen the inexpensive Baltika beers at the store and viewed them as a cheap higher alcohol beer with not much to offer.  A friend turned me on to the Baltika 6 a told me that it is actually a really good porter and one they covet.  I figured for two bucks it was worth a try!  The Baltika 6 is a Baltic Porter which are typically strong and sweet and the 6 is no exception.  It poured a dark brown to black with a thin tan head.  The first taste was instantly molasses, dark and sweet.  The sweetness remained as it warmed, but the molasses relaxed a bit with a fuller malt profile.  Overall was impressed with the Baltika 6 and will pick one up every now and then although I am still afraid to try to rest of their line-up!

Baltika 6 Porter

The Brü Revü – Real Ale Coffee Porter

Real Ale's Coffee Porter is one of their seasonal offerings that is brewed with Ruta Maya shade grown organic coffee.  It pours an opaque black with a small tan head and an aroma of chocolate and coffee.  The taste has a nice hint of coffee with some chocolate and roasted malt.  The coffee is subtle and adds a nice smooth balance to the porter.  This is a highly drinkable beer from Real Ale that exhibits depth and complexity.  The coffee porter is a top notch beer from a great local brewery.

Real Ale Coffee Porter