A Flowery Song

Background: Product of Norway.

Appearance: Pours a deep brown with a dense, creamy head that displays excellent retention.

Nose: Fruity and earthy. Slightly vinous and chocolatey.

Taste: The barest touch of sweet creaminess under a ton of rich earthiness, dark roasted coffee, dusty cocoa, and some dark stewed fruit. Dry, earthy, lingering finish.

Overall: It's nice, but on the expensive side.

Lhune Dhone
12-A Brown Porter

Recipe and Session Notes

Background: Homebrewed by HomeBrewTalk member Evets. Received as part of the 08/08/08 RIS swap.

Appearance: Opaque brown, minimal head.

Nose: Sweet, roasted malt. A hint of smoke.

Taste: Too much smoke. A background of earthiness, caramel sweetness, and cocoa. Dry, very slightly astringent finish.

Mouthfeel: On the light side of medium, good level of carbonation.

Overall: Needs easing up on the smoke, or something more to counterpoint the heavy smoke. I'm not sure what, though. The mouthfeel and what I could discern of the base beer were both good.

Lhune Dhone
12-A Brown Porter

Recipe and Session Notes

Appearance: Pours a very, very dark mahogany.

Smell: Sweet, nutty, roasted malts and some vanilla with a fruity hop aroma.

Taste: Medium malty sweetness tempered by a hefty hit of hops and a light sourness. Malt character is chocolate and walnut.

Mouthfeel: Full-bodied and a bit tongue-coating.

Drinkability: A nice, solid porter. Something about the finish was a bit off and decreased my enjoyment, but it's still fairly drinkable.

Appearance: Deep, dark brown, with a foamy light brown head.

Smell: Sweet malt, flowery hops, and hints of chocolate.

Taste: Huge roasted malt flavours, dominated by bittersweet chocolate and creamy coffee. Moderate citrusy hop presence.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full body, medium carbonation.

Drinkability: Rather nice robust porter, extremely well-balanced and easy-drinking. Nicely complex.

Appearance: Opaque black with a long-lasting light brown head.

Smell: Rich roasted malt, yeast, and cocoa.

Taste: Sweet roasted malt in the beginning, bitter chocolate and coffee notes in the middle, and some floral hops. Long finish shows some chicory characteristics.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and creamy medium body, medium carbonation, mild drying astringency in the finish.

Drinkability: Great; excellent example of the style.

Appearance: Clear, dark brown. About the colour of Pepsi. Thin, tan head that quickly dissipates.

Smell: Slightly nutty malt, some toasted malt and chocolate.

Taste: Standard toasted malt flavours: mild chocolate, coffee, and some vegetal notes; medium sweetness and mild hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel: A bit thin; light-bodied with medium carbonation.

Drinkability: Nothing special. Not really objectionable either. Would make a good session beer, and is fairly inexpensive.

Appearance: Pours a clear dark mahogany. Tan head, two fingers, with good retention.

Smell: Roasted malt, dark chocolate, yeast and lemony hops.

Taste: Rich malt flavour with cocoa and coffee notes. Light hops are just right to balance the flavour; some caramel sweetness up front. Dry, earthy finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, medium carbonation. Initial creaminess gives way to a mildly bitter bite.

Drinkability: High. Well-structured, lots of complexity, very solid example of the style.

Appearance: Deep, slightly reddish dark brown. Tan head with slight retention.

Smell: Estery malt nose with a hint of hops.

Taste: Roasted malt with chocolate notes, a wonderful smoky background, and medium-light hops.

Mouthfeel: Full-bodied and rich with medium carbonation.

Drinkability: Very nice. The smoke is well integrated with the base style, and the base is no slouch either. My only issue is that the smoke is a bit too light; I would have liked to see a bit more of it in the nose.