Noble Pig Mocha Porter

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 6

Overall 5 represents the inconsistency between batches, the other numbers represent the beer at its best. The brew pub has only been open 8 months though, so the recipies are liable to be tweaked to suit palates, which are largely non beer drinkers in this area. Combine that with Earls Gastown reminescent decor, the demographic is understandable. Regardless, at its best this beer has a wicked nestle instant coffee aroma, bit of sweetness and a touch of almond that is very alluring. Seems British influenced for sure, with a bit of bitter honey element that might be better described as a touch burnt and acid. In addition, the beer drinks real easy. I want to stress that this beer does not taste anything like honey, unless you have has honey from bees which only pollernated australian blossoms, available from Waitrose in the UK... to the point, it seems to have a mead character to it. Perhaps a bit of hooch, but not alcoholic at all, infact you could tell me that there was no alcohol and I might slam back 30 of them, at which point I would die. I will need to add to this review when the recipie is truly finalized. ------------------------ Time to add to the review! This beer has remained inconsistent, but on many conversations with other beer drinkers and brewers, we have come to suspect that the problem lies not with inconsistent serving or recipes but with operating at capacity always, leading to insufficient conditioning. Much of what I included in my last review was accurate, although anything honey has disappeared. The prevalent features remain light bodied, very dark, light tan head, aroma of toasted grain, light acid, slightly tart, traces of black patent all in a light bodied pale malt. On the tongue there is a latent bitterness and a touch of a coffee flavour, some dry biscuit and sometimes crackers. Best beer the pig brews but inconsistency still prevents full marks.