Southern Tier Robust Porter
I’ve had the pleasure of drinking many Southern Tier beers through the years and while each one has been tasty in their own right, they also tend to be a little over-the-top in terms of meeting a specific style. Whether it’s a super chocolatey stout or a superior pumpkin presence, I haven’t met that many of the company’s beers that sat in the middle of the road. That is, until now.
Southern Tier’s porter is rather tame in terms when compared to its brethren in the product line. That’s not to say it’s boring — not by any means. I mean, that it’s finally nice to have a beer of theirs that fits a standard nicely and is easy to drink. This robust porter carries a great flavor profile, moderate alcohol content and is pretty simply a solid brew.
Appearance
Pouring dark, cola brown in color the brew sits with a small amount of light brown head.
Aroma
A solid dose of chocolate, dark malt and a touch of roast coffee greets the nose with a welcoming aroma.
Taste
It’s not as chocolatey as say Mokah, but it does have a solid chocolate presence throughout each swallow. Roasted malt and dark coffee also present themselves with a moderate sweetness. The finish has a hint of hop bitterness that lingers softly.
Overall
I liked this beer. I think the more restrained character makes the beer that much more drinkable than the overly sweet Creme Brulee. This porter has got a great dark malt character and goes down smooth. I could certainly put a few of these away on a snowy afternoon.
Rating: 3.75/5
