Deschutes "Black Butte" Porter

If you would have asked me, I would've sworn that I've already done a review of this beer. I think I had it in a bottle. But I distinctly remember this beer. The problem is, I've searched through my blog (powered by Google) and haven't found diddly squat. So, I guess I tried it, and I forgot to write it down. This is my fault, so I'm stuck drinking another beer. Is it my life just terrible?

They call it Black Butte, but I have definitely had more ebony beers. This one fades to a mahogany toward the bottom of the glass, but the photons in the middle are getting absorbed by what is, presumably, deliciousness. The tan head is filled with tiny bubbles, and they leave a dusting in the center of the beer with a very thick ring around the sides. Porters don't leave lacing in general, and this one is no different. The aroma is roasted nuts, chocolate, and light coffee.

First sip has a lot more coffee than I expected. The chocolate is there, and there's certainly roasted nuts, but anyone who has read any of my reviews knows that I'm not a fan of coffee. I've learned to tolerate it in some of my beers, but this seems like a bit too much. It's possible the dryness and the bitterness at the end is forcing me closer to the general dislike of this beer, but I'm pretty sure it's mostly just the coffee.

Tip-in is a tiny bit sweet, a little chocolate, and the roasted malt that seems a little more like oats this time around. The middle gets watery at the back of the mouth while coffee and chocolate frontload toward the incisors. The finish is a veer toward bitterness, dryness, and smoked out coffee.

Bottom Line: A bit too much coffee to be enjoyed.

1.75/5