Beer Review: The Famous Taddy Porter

Reviewing The Famous Taddy Porter from Samuel Smith Old Brewery.
Score: 82
2011 vintage served in a snifter glass.

Appearance: Pours a dark brown. Held up to light, hints of red light barely pierce the beer's body. Pours a thin tan lace that mostly dissipates on settle into a small swirl of tan at the center of the beer. 3.5/5

Smell: Smells like milk chocolate mixed with black licorice. Faint slightly toasted coffee aromas as well. Smells a little acidic. 4/5

Taste: Flavor is very subdued and balanced, making it hard to discern specific flavors. The subdued taste is a disappointment given the robust flavors of the Samuel Smith Imperial Stout. What flavors I can divine are cream and roasted coffee. Absolute hop vacuum. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium body, low carbonation. 3/5

Overall: Very unimpressed by the lack of robust flavors in this brew, especially in comparison to Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout. There are a lot of nuanced flavors to discover in the subdued taste, so perhaps my palate is not yet developed enough to appropriately appreciate this beer. Personally, I prefer more robust complex flavors than subdued ones. Irrepsecitve of my personal opinion, the Famous Taddy Porter stands as a solid english porter that is quite drinkable and pleasant on the palate. It is certainly worth trying.

Recommendation: I could safely recommend the beer to all to try, but I would rather recommend something with more robust flavors to enjoy.

Pairings: Turkey?

Cost: $3.99 for a oversized pint bottle.