Beer Review: Walker's Reserve-Robust Porter by Firestone Walker

Walker's Reserve, Anniversary 14, Double Jack

At last week's release party at Piece Brewery in Chicago, Firestone Walker treated everyone to samples of three beers, the Walker's Reserve, Anniversary 14 and Double Jack.  All the samples were excellent.   Customers were offered the chance to buy a half pint and keep the glass for an extra dollar.  Well, knowing me and glassware and especially considering the glass had a "FW" nucleation point, I sprang for it.

Walker's Reserve

I like most about Walker's Reserve- Robust Porter is it is a "reserve" and a porter.  So often a reserves or special edition beer is an intense IPA or a barrel age stout.  It seems like no one comes out with a special release porter and it is good to see the style receive recognition.

Tasting Notes:
Walker's Reserve- Robust Porter poured a dark brown into a half pint glass with a moderate tan head.  A sweet aroma with chocolate and coffee give way to a creamy flavorful beer.  A drinkable porter at 5.9% ABV, and if I didn't have to work the next morning I would have stayed for another.

Beer Review: Smoked Baltic Porter by Great Divide Brewing Co.

If you have not figured it out by now, Great Divide is on my list of favorite breweries.  Coincidentally BBQ is one of my favorite dishes.  When I saw this beer on the shelf I knew I needed to buy it because smoking a hunk of meat was in my near future.

Tasting Notes:

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a becker glass.  I had a lot of foam issues on my pour and again on my second pour.  I found this odd since most of the Beer Advocate reviewers reported lack of head as a problem.  It had smoke and chocolate aromas, but not as smokey as I wanted.  The smoke and chocolate carried through on the tongue with the addition of strong coffee.  Moderate carbonation and a medium mouthfeel along with the intensity of the flavors make this a tough beer to order multiples of but solid to go with BBQ.

Beer Review: Pipeline Porter by Kona Brewing Company

Kona's Pipeline Porter is the last beer I drank as part of the Open It! online event.  This beer is my brother's favorite beer, and when I went to Vegas I brought him back a six pack as an early Christmas gift.  He was pretty blown away, he expected just one, lonely single bottle.  Pipeline is a highly regarded Porter and only has a limited bottling run each year.  Coffee flavors in this beer are not just from malt, but also from 100% Kona coffee that is added to each batch.

Tasting Notes:
Poured a deep brown into a Pipeline Porter shaker pint and a nice tan head formed.  Strong coffee aroma with malt and chocolate behind it.  Coffee also dominates the flavor profile of this beer.  The malt brings a nice sweetness and there is no bitterness from the coffee as one expects.  A very smooth beer with nice carbonation and balance.  Definitely worth picking up given the chance.

Porters and Stouts

Every fall people start asking me to explain the difference between a porter and stout.  The answer not much, but a whole lot.  The history of these two beers have crossed paths, and I am sure someone could write a book on the history of porter alone.  Here is a quick summation of the difference and the similarity.

• Both are dark, bitter and have roasted coffee and chocolate flavors.
• Stouts will be darker and more intense.
• Porters will have a lighter body.
• Stouts will have a bigger head.

How is that for a crash course?  Now you should know there are variations of both these styles, but for today I think you have learned enough.  If you really want to know more, drink a porter then drink a stout.  Get a sampler and try them side by side.  The only way to really begin to know beer is not by instruction, but by living it.  Now please, go drink some beer!

#9 of 1001 Odell Brewing Company Cutthroat Porter

Another in the Series based off of the book 1001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die (1001 (Universe)).

Cutthroat Porter was originally brewed at the request of a tavern in Fort Collins, Colorado and named after the state fish.  This was one of the first beers Odell started brewing, which made it convenient to take back home in the suitcase.  In all honesty, this is one of my most favorite porters of all time.  I seriously could drink this one all day, now if they would only sell it in Chicago.

Tasting Notes:
Pours a deep black with a thin tan head.  (Although the book calls it a rich tan head)  Smells of coffee and chocolate.  Has a light mouthfeel with a gentle smokiness.  Comes off a bit more hoppy than one expects.