In how many ways can I tell you how good this is I wonder.
This is good, good, GOOD.
Coal Scuttle Porter is a collaboration between the mad scientist that is Jon of Arbor Ales and Roger Parry, winner of Bristol Craft Brewers 2011 Winter Warmer Competition, and it’s a high octane Porter aged for ten months in Cognac barrels.
Oh, and did I say it’s really good?
No?
Well, it is.
This beer pours a delicious prunes and chocolate purple brown and smells of stewed red fruit, apple juice, chocolate and booze.
There’s a massively satisfying wood fired chocolate presence in the malts that turns into a plump plum richness before the dry leafy hop crispness that Arbor always manage to cram into their beers.
The ageing in Cognac barrels adds a meaty backbone that fills out the beer with a warm woody sexiness, heating your chest and leaving a lovely dry brandy tinged finish on your tongue.
I said it was good, right?