Southern Tier Porter

Today Beer! keeps the winter Porter theme going with a brew from Southern Tier.

Brewery: Southern Tier Brewing Company
Location: Lakewood, NY
Style: Porter
Brewery Website
Rating: B

In my glass today is the Southern Tier Porter. This porter is a deep orange-brown color with a deep tan head. The nose detects sweetness, winy notes, chocolate and faint hops notes.

On the palate, there are notes of smoke and roasted cocoa up front. There is a distinct mineral note. Notes of oatmeal, caramel, and earthiness are here as well. There is some alcohol, leaving a bit of a warming sensation. Faint notes of hops and cola are in the background as well. The Southern Tier Porter is medium-bodied with a slight carbonation fizz. The finish has roasted coffee and dark toast.

The Southern Tier Porter is a bit understated for a porter. It is not the typical big, bombastic, roasted porter. The flavor is well-rounded, but it could use a bit more hops for my tastes to fill the void left by easing back on the smokiness. This one is worth a try if you prefer your porters to have the smoke dialed back a bit.