Katy and Sasha are the contributors for Ottawa Beer Events! They have distinctly different palates and in this segment they go head-to-head tasting Ottawa beer. This week they sample Belle Hop Porter from Beyond the Pale Brewing Company.
Katy:
I know we're clinging to those last four days of summer, hoping the leaves will stay green for a few more days (at least a weekend) more, but it's time to give in. The days are getting shorter, the sun is getting hard to find and aren't you getting a little tired of drinking session IPA after session IPA? When the weather changes beer seasons change and now is a great time to start bumping it up a notch and cozy in to those higher alcohol beers. Beyond the Pale's Belle Hop Porter is a great brew to snap you out of that seasonal mood swing and have you looking forward to the dark and complex world of cold season beers.
Belle Hop Porter pours a deep brown with mahogany highlights and a frothy mocha head that lingered in the glass. Aromas of roasted malt and dark chocolate were prominent with a slight green pepper note as it warms. The flavour is predominantly malt with an emphasis on coffee, roast and dark chocolate but there is a noticeable bitter hop at the end.
With a light body and hidden alcohol flavours this 7.8% ABV brew could be very easy to drink, especially if you're inside on a rainy day with Netflix.
Sasha:
I’m super excited to get back to our Head to Head series and what better way to kick it off than with Beyond the Pale’s Belle Hop Porter.
Mine poured a dark brown with a slight reddish tinge and a tan head that left behind a nice thick lacing on my glass. The espresso notes definitely take over the aroma along with just a hint of nut.
The taste consisted of deep coffee notes mixed with a hint of dark chocolate – almost like eating a chocolate covered espresso bean.
As it warms you just get a hint of booziness and the beer finishes off with a nice bitterness, a little nuttiness and toffee sweetness with the coffee taste lingering on the palate long after the last sip.
Overall a great choice for a cool fall evening or pretty much anytime at all – although at just shy of 8% ABV you might want to share it – or you might not!
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