Pecan Porter - (512) Brewing
I’d be lying if I didn’t confess that this is the beer that made me want to do a whole month of porters. It has held my eye for a long while, so I thought I’d find an excuse to give it a try. And what better time than after the Texas pecan harvest when the leaves and temperature are both falling.
I also thought that this beer might be a good break from the more dessert-style porters we’ve tried this month. And boy was I right. Nothing against those porters, they are fantastic in their own ways, but we were in need of something dark and heavy and purely Texan. This porter is just that. It’s the kind of beer my mind goes to when I think of porters and stouts, and it’s the kind of beer I want to drink when the only lights on in the house are those strung around the Christmas tree.
But, besides drinking it, I also wanted to know a little more about it. According to 512brewing.com, this beer cracks open at 6.2% ABV and 30 IBUs. It’s malt bill consists of Organic 2-Row, Crystal, Black malt, and Baird’s Chocolate Malt. It also contains additions of Glacier hops and, of course, Organic Texas pecans.
Now that we know a bit more, let’s dive into our First Impressions:
First Look--Pitch black, nearly opaque, and with little head formation.
First Smell--Heavy dark chocolate hits the nose first and then a good dose of malt sweetness. I struggled to find the aromatic pecans at first, but, to be honest, I wasn’t really sure what I was sniffing for there. It certainly smells like a strong porter.
First Taste--Aha! My tongue detected what my nose could not. As soon as that first drop hit my tongue I could instantly taste (and smell) the pecans. Very earthy and roasty, probably from the combination of pecans and Glacier hops (a well thought out combo). It is pleasantly roasted with a woody nuttiness. It has a full body and a lot of Texas character. It tastes a lot like stepping outside in the fall and smelling a brisket smoking over a bed of pecan chips as the drying leaves fall from the trees. It is quite balanced and, once again, a nice transition from some of the more dessert-style porters.
512’s Pecan Porter has a lot of character that comes together with the roasty, malty, nutty, and chocolatey dry finish.
If you want more like this dense and comforting drink, check out (512) Brewing out of Austin, TX, or look for them where you purchase your suds. They have much to offer, but if you’re looking for something to warm you on a cold December night, I suggest the Pecan Porter.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew
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Another brew from (512) Brewing —> Black IPA