As long as I’m on a roll I might as well keep playing. I already wrote about Deschutes Brewery’s entry into the Minnesota beer market in my last post on their Mirror Pond Pale Ale. So I’ll just cut to the chase this time and get to the porter. Here’s my notes:

Black Butte Porter
Deschutes Brewery, Bend, Oregon
Style: Robust Porter
Serving Style: 22 oz. Bottle

Aroma: Chocolate and coffee with a slightly smoky roast malt char. Caramel sweetness blends with an oaty bread or cookie dough aroma. Lightest touch of minty floral hops.

Appearance: Dark brown. Appears black in the glass. Very clear. The moderate and creamy tan head persisted moderately.

Flavor: Malt is king with a regal display of chocolate, burnt caramel, and that same oaty, doughy character from the aroma. Like semi-sweet chocolate or chocolate cookies. The caramel sweetness is balanced by moderate hops and roasted malt bitterness and a very light touch of floral and resinous hops flavor. It goes out on a long, sweet, chocolate finish with just a hint of lingering roast bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Medium body. Low carbonation accentuates a creamy, smooth, oily feel that one expects from an oatmeal stout. This beer feels good in your mouth.

Overall Impression: Like the Mirror Pond Pale Ale, balance is key with this beer. It’s full flavored, but doesn’t knock you over the head with it. It tantalizes the taste buds without having to dare you to like it. One could drink several of these without burning out or falling out of the chair. If they don’t use oats in this beer I would like to know what they do to get that rich, creamy, oatmeal character. This remains one of my favorite black beers.