Lactose Porter

Brewery: Hops & Grain
Style: Alternative Sugar Beer (31B)
Package: 12oz Can
Purchased: January 2019, Whichcraft
Packaged Date: 11/26/18
Consumed Date: 2/24/19

Details from the Brewer

ABV: 6.8%

In comparison to our Porter Culture, with Lactose Porter we changed the malt bill, removed a few other ingredients and introduced lactose during the brewing process.

Provides similar flavor notes of coffee, chocolate, raisin and a deeper finish of tobacco – with a rounded out velvety-smoothness thanks to the Lactose!

Review

Aroma – 11/12

A moderate cocoa and fig smell hits the nose first.  A nice malt profile backs this up with graham cracker, bread crust and grainy notes at a low-medium intensity.  Wisps of dark fruit and red apple esters are also apparent.  A low sweetness is present, but no alcohol. 

Appearance – 3/3

Pours a very dark brown, almost black liquid.  Although dark, has good clarity.  Small bubbles form a dense tan head.  It hangs around with great retention.  Minor lacing as well.  Some floaters towards the bottom of the can.

Flavor – 17/20

No single flavor jumps out at the start.  Raisins, bread crust, and bakers chocolate blend in equally with flavors of fig, and biscuit at a medium level.  Lesser notes of coffee, caramel and roast pop up, but at a low intensity.  The beer carries a significate sweetness, with very low bitterness.  Some earthiness appears with a touch of apple esters before the finish.  The finish leaves some sweetness in the mouth with some malt character as well.

Mouthfeel – 5/5

Luscious.  The texture is silky, coating the mouth, but not sticky.  Medium carbonation hits the lips and back of the throat.  No astringency, and only a slight alcohol warmth throughout the mouth.   As the beer warms, the finish becomes a little sharper and looses a touch of smoothness.

Overall Impression – 9/10

This is a fantastic porter.  The flavors are very well balanced an integrated with one another.  A great depth of character kept me reaching for my glass to discover more character.  Very minor tweaks would be to increase the malt character just a touch.  I think the sweetness and body was a bit overdone, but honestly it still worked really well with the beer.

Rating – 45/50

 Wow.  I’m not usually a fan of lactose in beers.  I enjoy very few Sweet (milk) Stouts, and have a casual disregard for milkshake IPA.  The lactose here just worked so well though.  What a great mouthfeel.  The balance was fantastic, with flavors casually intermingling.  I’m really surprised I haven’t heard much about this beer from the Austin beer scene.  I honestly might like this better than their Porter Culture!