English Ales Black Prince Porter

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

12oz bottle -

Found most, if not all, of the English Ales while on a recent stop in Monterey. Stopped off at Bottles and Bins and they had a great selection. The beer is really a nice porter. A mixed aroma of powdered chocolate, metal, dark fruit, and leather. Flavor has a nice combo of licorice, dark chocolate and light coffee bean. There is some bitterness that reminds me of molasses/burnt sugar. Probably the black patent. Very nice pour with a black body and a light tan 1" head. Tasty beer.

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

Draught at Toronado. 05.22.04 Choppy notes...here’s what I’ve got: Aroma of maple bark, winter garden, dead vegetation and burnt wood. Flavors harbor some roastiness, cherry, ripe grains. Vegetal and dry on the palate and finish for a porter. Not at all "velvety" on finish. Not spectacular. I won’t rush back for another one of these, but I’m still totally sold on the Toronado.

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

The last of a four-bottle sampler set of my own design from the brewery, after picking and choosing from the range of beers that Hi Times had of this NorCal offering. And while I have to say that I was mildly impressed (to varying degrees) with the Fat Lip Scottish Ale, the English Ales Pale Ale, and the Monk's Brown..., this semms to be the weak link of the bunch. My bud Darren gave a me more than a few warnings about this offering, so I went in to the beer with a fair amount of caution. But while this isn't nearly as horrendous as he implied in his various notes to me over the past two weeks..., it's still rather disappointing and dull, IMO.

Nil lacing, nil head retention, no foam -- all amounting a rather piss-poor appearence in my book.

Adequate aroma..., though has some vague "cold/old coffee" hints that don't really fit very well.

Flavor-wise, it doesn't look quite as bleak, all-told... but still not all that interesting really. Some roastiness here and there, but thin-and-watery mouthfeel only hinders this beer from trying to make any sort of real statement. Not all that nasty tasting, per se -- just not very interesting.

Overall, I think this is a case where the bottle has done a cask beer a disservice. From what I'm told, it's hot-diggety good from a hand-pumped firkin. But this goofy-looking bottle next to my keyboard? Pass.

Music: Various Artists' "Strange Daze '97 - America's 1st SpaceRock Music Festival (Disc 1)".
//TB

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

Pours from a 12 oz bottle an eclipse black color. Small sized white foamy head. Aroma is chocolate and coffee, with a touch of roasted malts and cardboard. A medium to light bodied porter. Malts are chocolate and coffee. Slightly spicy hops. Dry crisp finish. Lighter flavored porter. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is dry and crisp. Aftertaste is slightly bitter

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

I had this beer awhile back while on vacation. It was in a small pub that specialized in Engish ales. It poured with a nice head that left some injteresting lacing. It was very dark in color. It started with a roasty/chocolate flavor that was followed by notes of licorice. A mild sweetness is detected throughout and fiished with a very nice chocolate/malt. Yummy!