Smokey Porter 2018 Review

Aroma: Slightly acrid smoke aroma. Malty background, light sweetness. Hint of chocolate / dark roast. Hop aroma very low.


Appearance: Tan head with rocky texture, ok retention, dark black body.


Taste: Light malt sweetness, somewhat acrid smoke, moderate woody bitterness. It taste a little tart. Bitterness is moderate. Has kind of a woody note.


Mouthfeel: A little thin. Carbonation is low. Slight astringency at the end.

Overall: Ok but not super characterful. I'd like a little more sweetness, more body, and more complexity. Use more hops at the end. Perhaps use some Munich or Maris Otter malt, and higher mash temp.

Sour Solera 2nd Pull Tasting

Aroma: Sourness, lactic with vinegar notes. Lemony rind quality. Some light fruit esters, bretty funk. No hops, malt aroma is barely noticeable. As it warms a kind of woody aroma comes through.


Appearance: Golden yellow body. Haziness from yeast slurry. Fluffy white head with small bubbles immediately after pour, but dissipates after a few minutes.


Taste: I get the lemony rhind / pith quality at the start. Aftertaste is quite sour and has a bit of acetic harshness. It also has some woody / tannic quality in the background. Quite dry. Malt flavors barely there, covered up by the sourness.


Mouthfeel: Moderately carbed, somehow though it has a bit of creaminess in the texture.


Overall: A bit too harshly sour - too much viengar. I find the tannic quality a bit weird. Wish I could identify it more precisely. Will keep the solera going just as an experiment.