So apparently, back in the day, there was a place called Pizza Port. They served, naturally enough, pizza. Later, they added a small brewery on the premises and became a brewpub. In 2006, they bought a brewery formerly owned by Stone, and started up Port Brewing and The Lost Abbey as independent brewing ventures. The big name brewer at all these locations is a guy named Tomme Arthur, and he seems to be wracking up the kudos ever since. Seriously, they make comics out of him and everything. I’m not all that familiar with his beers, so I’ve been angling to get my hands on some of late, including this one:
Port Brewing Old Viscosity – While certainly not the first beer to use old engine oil as a metaphor, I do have to wonder how appetizing that association really is. Well whatever, I still say if you’re going to make that distinction, you should just go whole-hog and package your beer in an old-timey oil can, complete with that funky spout that you have to jam into the can in order to open it. Uh, yeah, so onto this beer: Pours a very dark brown/black color with a finger of light tan head. The aroma has a lot of roastiness, but also some of those oak notes and even some booziness. The taste is sweet, roasty, and very boozy. You get a lot of heat from the alcohol and there’s also a nice dry dark chocolate bitterness that emerges in the finish. The oak aging has clearly imparted some character here, but it’s more about texture and body than flavor. It’s not as full bodied or rich as I’d expect though, perhaps because of that strong alcohol presence, but it’s very bold and aggressive stuff. It’s certainly good and very complex, but something about this just isn’t gelling for me. I like it and had no problem polishing off a bottle, but it’s not something I’d go out of my way to try again. B
Beer Nerd Details: 10.5% ABV bottled (22 oz. bomber). Drank out of a tulip glass on 9/2/11.
I’m still looking forward to trying their Mongo IPA, which has a great reputation, and of course, the entire Lost Abbey line holds interest for me. Nothing in the cellar as of yet. I’m sure you’re worried about that, and I thank you for your concern, but I assure you I’ll get there. Really. Scout’s honor (A cub scout still counts as a scout, right?)