Poorter Porter: Not poor to pour
I picked up a Belgian Porter from Sterkens Meer Brauwery in
This beer is called Poorter Porter. The label described this offering as “The freeman Porter from Hoogstraten, a dark top-fermented porter brewed according to the purity law of 1516.”
From its stoneware bottle, Poorter Porter poured a translucent dark red/mahogany color, with a fluffy, off-white foam cloud of a head. It was sudsy, airy, voluminous, and shrank after a minute to a minimal head with a little sticky lacing on the glass. Its nose was reminiscent of the classic Belgian beer yeast smell, with the presence of alcohol scents and sweet metallic notes. There was also a slight toastiness in the nose. The body was velvety smooth and light, and went down easy, warming the tummy. Flavors of brown sugar, milk chocolate, and ryeless pumpernickel bread were present, though they did not invade the palate, but merely danced upon it. Some sweetness lingered and left a dry finish when it decided to leave.
This Belgian porter was a nice treat compared to the other offering I tried from this brewery. It was very drinkable and presented itself as a decently complex beer without being too pretentious. This porter might be a good beer for a cool evening in near the fire, as it behaves nicely in the room temperature. It would also be a good beer to try if you are intimidated by other less-than-modest Belgian beers.