Blackstone "St. Charles" Porter

From the black heart of Tennessee comes the black stone that birthed Blackstone brewery. Is this their tag line? No. Should it be the start of some viral video that they make to promote their brand? Possibly. I will expect a check for this writing, though. Until then, I will drink this beer.

The beer is a very dark red that approaches black, but it could not be easily confused with black. It does not froth as a proper porter might, but it is not so lackadaisical in its production of foam that it might be confused for a barrel-aged beer. Shockingly, there are just a few small patches of lacing as the head goes down. The aroma is delightfully sweet cherry wood, light coffee, and vanilla. It's pretty inviting. 

First sip is coffee and nutty. It is way nuttier than I expected, and those nuts are roasted with an oat malt. The sweetness is completely absent, and a dryness has grabbed hold with both hands and is never going to release my tongue. There is a slightly bitter or semi-sweet chocolate film after the dryness has started to release its death grip. 

Tip-in is light coffee and sweet roasted nuts with just a tickling of carbonation. The middle brings the meat of the beer with heightened carbonation over the coffee that is joined by bitter-sweet chocolate, nuts, and earth. The finish is a dry well of bittersweet chocolate, coffee, and nuts before the dry trail-off.

Bottom Line: Not spectacular. Not terrible.

2.25/5