Great Lakes Brewery Harry Porter and the Bourbon Soaked Vanilla Bean American Porter at 6.5% ABV (Trade – thanks, Groulxsome!, 650 ml, bottle date 2-Apr-2015)
Appearance: opaque brown-black with one finger of rocky tan head, excellent retention and lacing. (5/5) Aroma: vanilla bean, dark chocolate and coffee, bourbon. (8/10) Taste: moderately strong sweet, moderately strong bitter. (7/10) Palate: full body, moderate-low carbonation, moderate lingering bitter and warming finish. (4/5)
Surprisingly bombastic for a relatively restrained ABV – it swaggers like a double-digit but is fairly successfully in punching above its weight. I say “fairly”, because the finish ultimately gets a bit unbalanced towards the bitter once the sweetness subsides, and you’re able to taste it since the taste buds haven’t been pummelled into submission by the booziness. Still, very much worth a try, and the lower ABV means you won’t be limited to just one – whether of this, or something else! (16/20)
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
