Bagel Beer Pumpernickel Porter

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

While I admit that the brewer was doing something different, which I always will admire, this one just didn't do it for me. A pitch black pour with minimal head, the nose just didn't have much punch for a porter. Slight hints of roastiness but that's about it. Mouthfeel was thin, flavor was roastiness and some bitterness. I didn't taste anything that was remotely pumpernickel nor bagels so that was pretty poor. An average beer. Nothing more.

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

Now this was somewhat interesting. Again, I have to admit that, just like the bottle of Bagel IPA I had a few months ago, this Pumpernickel Porter was surprisingly interesting.

Black as a moonless night, with only wisps of foam hanging around near the rim of the glass. Served a bit too cold to get a real feel for the aroma, but still enough to note the roasty barley-ness in the nose -- or is that roasted pumpernickel?

Tasty mouthfeel, that highlights more of the roasted goodness in the flavor profile. Perhaps a touch too bitter for the style, but considering that I also think that Stone's 6th Aniversary Porter is excellent, I can truly live with such a "fault". :)

Bagel Beer still conjures up images of this being some sort of novelty beer. But after two interesting beers from the Lotsolox Brewing Company (nice name, I guess), maybe there's something more to this. Either way, give this a try if/when you happen to see it.
//TB