Samuel Adams Holiday Porter
Samuel Adams Holiday Porter 12 oz bottle Best before 04/07, Portaged 11/06 Medium pour in an English pint. Poured black with mahogany highlights with an average light brown frothy somewhat diminishing head with good lacing. Smelt of moderate sweet licorice, toffee, dark chocolate, smokiness. Taste was upfront moderate sweet black licorice with light bitter roast followed by a moderate dark chocolate, dark soil and vanilla on an average length bitter coffee finish. Palate was medium to full bodied, velvety and creamy, softly carbonated with light astringency. Overall, this porter turns harshly from sweet to bitter, and shows too much schizophrenic character to be truly enjoyed.