Wold Top Brewery Marmalade Porter Porter at 5% ABV (2014 Advent Calendar #17, 330ml, best before end 05/15)
Pours clear brown with ruby highlights, one finger of loose tan head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, moderate lacing. (4/5) Nose is muted roasty malts and coffee, hints of orange peel, dark fruit, and chocolate. (6/10) Taste is moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Medium body, moderate to low carbonation, dry slightly astringent finish. (3/5)
Decent porter with perhaps just a little too much coffee astringency in the finish. I usually don’t like too much sweetness in a beer, but this one could actually use a little more. Body tends a little to the watery side, as well. Feels like it wants to be a bigger, beefier beer than it is, but the low ABV prevents it from providing much in the way of impact or warming. The net effect is one of it being slightly harsh. It’s pleasant enough, regardless, but not something I’d necessarily seek out, since there are lots of better examples of the style out there – Meantime or Taddy, for example. (12/20)
6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
