You know how I go on about De Molen being my favourite brewery?
Well The Kernel are getting so close to taking that title it’s almost painful.
This is such a brilliant Porter that I almost don’t know where to start.
While pouring the beer there’s a fresh and fruity aroma that includes a good kick of curry powder, bread dough and, oddly but strangely satisfyingly, cardboard boxes.
Eport India Porter fixes the bottling problems of the Columbus version and sits dark and sultry in the glass with the most alluring thick dark cream head.
From the first mouthful there’s the most enormous bitter chocolate, bread crumb, black pepper and raisin malts that grow and evolve into boozy plums and bitter damsons, rhubarb and celery.
And then there are the hops that snap and crackle with life.
Big and smiley and slightly off their faces, they’re overly bright with hazelnut leaves, lemon rind, grilled red peppers and a beautifully pithy mown lawn dryness that makes the finish rift off into the distance with glossy eyes.