Beer Review: Atwater Vanilla Java Porter

Serving Type: Draft/Growler

ABV: Six percent

Appearance: Atwater Vanilla Java Porter is a tad lighter when it comes to porters, which are almost exclusively black. By lighter I'm still talking in a darker connotation. This brew was pretty much a dark brown. If I took some dark chocolate and melted it down the finished product should be something close to this color.The head of the beer wasn't too active. There was a very thin layer, but it did feature some of the biggest bubbles I've seen in a beer.

Smell: The aroma kind of reminded me of an upscale coffee shop. I noticed a few hints of coffee roast with some vanilla sneaking in behind it. Overall, the smell is in the dark and roasty category. The vanilla plays the role of a nice kicker.

Taste: Expect a rush of coffee up front and an above'average finish with the vanilla. I also got an unexpected touch of cocoa mixed in there with the vanilla sensation. In terms of mouth feel I was kind of disappointed in that regard. I expected this from the sight of the brew's head, but it does indeed not feel as thick as I'd want it to be. As us geeks like to say "we like a porter/stout that we can chew."

Overall Rating: 

There's a good use of flavors in this beer. Usually you get a dark brew that has either a combination of coffee/cocoa or coffee/vanilla. This one provides you with all three. The two small misses for me was the lack of head activity and the weak mouth feel. Still, I'd be happy with another growler of this. Reminded me, albeit slightly, of Breckenridge Vanilla Porter.

Beer Review: Southern Tier Creme Brulee

Serving Type: Draft

ABV: 9.6 percent

Appearance: Southern Tier Creme Brulee pours a thick black. Just straight black. I couldn't pick up any other highlights such as a brown or red within the body. It looks like something you can chew. It's head provides an inch thickness, is more fizzy than thick and is an attractive shade of beige.

Smell: This beer smelled like some sort of an epic dessert. Good thing I had it after my meal. Vanilla is the most dominant aroma. Caramel and chocolate hints followed that up. Overall, the three aromas are extremely sweet.

Taste: Amazingly sweet. I can do sweet, but not too much of it. This has a ton. As it warms, it just becomes too much for me. That doesn't mean it's the beer. I'm like that with anything. Otherwise, the vanilla and chocolate are prominent on the front. There's also something roasty about this brew's flavor. I'm not entirely sure if it was a dark chocolate or coffee taste that was hidden somewhere in there. The darkness in flavor is almost a welcoming feeling. You're not completely consumed in sugary sweetness.

Overall Rating: 

This is a really complex beer. If you can handle the sweetness, I suggest you try it. If you've got a sweet tooth this could be right up your alley. Milk Stouts are definitely something I'm looking into exploring a bit more.