One of my favorite offerings in the Sam Adams Winter Classics available during the holidays had always been the Holiday Porter. So I was disappointed when it was not one of the brews in this years version.
It was with a mix of relief and dread then when I opened up the Spring offerings and saw this Maple Pecan Porter. Relief to have a Porter in the mix. Dread because Maple Pecan suggested a too sweet and/or too syrupy beer awaited.
The inky dark color didn't assuage my trepidation immediately. This beer just looks like it is going to be too heavy. And as you bring the glass toward your face you are hit with the scent of a maple aroma.
The first impression when you finally taste the brew is of some bitterness offset by a slightly sweet malty flavor. This is followed by the taste of the roasted malt accompanied by the hint of pecan. The after taste really brings out some chocolate overtones.
My overall impression of the beer though is one of balance. The Maple Pecan Porter is both bitter and sweet, but not too much of either. Really enjoyed drinking this one slowly and letting the complex interplay of the bitterness of the hops, the sweetness from the malt and the maple and pecan flavors and the hint of chocolate at the end play in my mouth.
The color does not lie however. This is a heavy brew. I have found that one of these a night is sufficient.
I give Samuel Adams Maple Pecan Porter 7 mugs out of 10.
Until next time, drink well!
It was with a mix of relief and dread then when I opened up the Spring offerings and saw this Maple Pecan Porter. Relief to have a Porter in the mix. Dread because Maple Pecan suggested a too sweet and/or too syrupy beer awaited.
The inky dark color didn't assuage my trepidation immediately. This beer just looks like it is going to be too heavy. And as you bring the glass toward your face you are hit with the scent of a maple aroma.
The first impression when you finally taste the brew is of some bitterness offset by a slightly sweet malty flavor. This is followed by the taste of the roasted malt accompanied by the hint of pecan. The after taste really brings out some chocolate overtones.
My overall impression of the beer though is one of balance. The Maple Pecan Porter is both bitter and sweet, but not too much of either. Really enjoyed drinking this one slowly and letting the complex interplay of the bitterness of the hops, the sweetness from the malt and the maple and pecan flavors and the hint of chocolate at the end play in my mouth.
The color does not lie however. This is a heavy brew. I have found that one of these a night is sufficient.
I give Samuel Adams Maple Pecan Porter 7 mugs out of 10.
Until next time, drink well!
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