Dubbel Coffee Porter
Brewery: Celis Brewery
Style: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer (30A)
Package: 12oz Can
Purchased: Whole Foods Arboretum, November 2018
Packaged Date: 10/30/2018
Consumed Date: 12/12/2018
Details from the Brewer
ABV:7%
Created by Christine Celis, this beautifully rich brew features dark caramel malt and a distinctly Belgian Dubbel yeast. The effect is a robust yet smooth, chestnut-colored porter with demure chocolate undertones from the infusion of organic, cold-pressed Guatemalan and Mexican coffees from Austin’s own Summer Moon Coffee Bar.
Review
Aroma – 10/12
A complex malty aroma of roasted coffee, tobacco and cocoa nibs hits the nose first at a medium-high level. A low level of raisin comes out as it warms. There’s a touch of a apple and pear ester at play here too. No real discernable hop or alcohol character.
Appearance – 3/3
Pours a dark, black liquid, with some light transmission. You can barely make out a flashlight, through it. Light brown, small bubble compose a modest head that fades with average retention.
Flavor – 14/20
Coffee is the first and main player on the tongue. It comes off as a midroast coffee, but at a medium-high intensity. There’s a slight berry fruitiness that comes out I’d attribute to the coffee as well. Low-medium apple esters are joined by dark chocolate note. The mid palate brings with it a low bitterness, but significant dryness. There’s a touch of a papery, maybe oxidation character that comes out towards the finish. This is also joined by a subtle vegetal note.
Mouthfeel – 3/5
Medium bodied. A moderate carbonation level prickles the front tongue on the finish. There’s a low creaminess to the mouthfeel. Some alcohol warmth in the back of the throat. Very low roast-based astringency on the finish.
Overall Impression – 8/10
This beer has a wonderful coffee expression to it. The beer leans generously towards a porter vs a dubbel. I judged this more as a spice herb vegetable beer, than mixed style (dubbel and porter). I feel like even for a porter, the body is a touch thin. The dryness caused by the belgian yeast may be playing into this, but I was surprised by it’s subtleness. I would expect there to be more phenols present; instead, a smattering of esters.
Rating – 38/50
It’s interesting to see a brewer use a mid roast coffee in their beer. I really like the coffee expression here. While it does carry with it some vegetal notes as it warms, it’s not off putting to me like it usually would be in coffee stouts. I remember when the first iteration of the Celis & Uncle Billy’s Coffe Dubbel collab came out. The coffee character didn’t work. When they revised and used cold steeped beans on the second iteration, it was much improved. That lesson was obviously applied here, and works well.
