Hubbard's Cave Chocolate & Blackberry Pot De Créme Imperial Stout

Chocolate, Blackberrie, Vanilla Beans, Lactose
Brewed at Une Année Brewery

12% ABV
Beer Advocate score - 4.32/5
Untappd score 4.15/5

20C. Imperial Stout

An intensely-flavored, big, dark ale with a wide range of flavor balances and regional interpretations. Roasty-burnt malt with deep dark or dried fruit flavors, and a warming, bittersweet finish. Despite the intense flavors, the components need to meld together to create a complex, harmonious beer, not a hot mess.

Shipment from Tavour - Hails from Niles, Illinois

This is the first review of my Birthday Shipment from Tavour! When you get free money, there is no better way to spend it...at least for me. This lovely brew had me after I read Chocolate & Blackberry. I didn't even realize it was an Imperial Stout until after purchasing it! And the can went really well with our tiny little Christmas tree...but Christmas is over, so on to the review!

Appearance: Pours an oily black color as all the ingredients are of the dark nature. Hardly a head but it was mocha colored and dissipated quickly.  8

Aroma: First note is of a combination of fruit with hints of plum, fig and of course blackberry. The chocolate kicks in after with a whiff of vanilla and a nice earthy undertone.  9
 
Flavor: Jammy blackberry up front which dives into a silky smooth chocolate ganache. Hints of coffe and a lingering vanilla on the back end. It was as smooth as drinking a fine red wine blend.  9.3

Mouthfeel: A full bodied brew that hides the high alcohol very well. Smooth with the right amount of carbonation.   8

Overall: I think I need to visit Niles, Illinois so I can discover more from Hubbard's Cave. This is a top notch brew that I would pay top dollar for. I haven't had many brews that I liked more than this one. Thank you Hubbard's Cave for introducing the world to this perfection of a brew. 8.58

Matt's mark: 4.26/5

Worthy Brewing's Cosmic Portal Cocoa Porter

brewed with cocoa nibs

25 IBU 5.4% ABV
Beer Advocate - 3.88 (one review)
Untappd - 4.03/5

20A. American Porter

A substantial, malty dark beer with a complex and flavorful dark malt character.

Purchased at Safeway - Hails from Bend, Oregon.

It's been a minute since I did my last review. Life events and holiday cheer kept getting in the way (or just delaying the review, I kept drinking the beers of course). I was delighted I didn't have to go very far for this one. It's not very often I can find a beer I haven't had by walking through a Safeway...yet here we are! On to the review!

Appearance: It's a nice dark brown with just the slightest touch of red. Fingers width of a tan head which dissipates slowly. Nice lacing.  7.8

Aroma: As one would expect from a cocoa porter, it has a nice strong chocolate aroma with sweet nutty roasty fragrance to back it up.   7.9

Flavor: A nice biscuity bitterness that flows directly into a dark chocolate note. It finishes off with notes of toffee on the back end. Nicely balanced.   8

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied which is perfect for a porter. The carbonation level could be a little lower.   7

Overall: I've come to expect anything from Worthy Brewing not to disappoint. The Cosmic Portal held up its end of the bargain. While I have certainly had higher scoring brews, this is a solid drink to have in hand when entertaining company or watching a football game...or anytime really. Now, if they had a barrel aged version of this I would be waiting in line for it.  7.67

Matt's mark: 3.84/5