Bluegrass Brewing Co.
Louisville, KY
Available: IN, KY, OH
Dark Star Porter 1997 Real Ale Fest Winner and named after the 1953 Kentucky Derby winner, this traditional English style ale has a robust yet smooth flavor. A subtle hint of chocolate malt flavor fins its way through this very dark ale which features a spicy hop finish.
Alcohol (wt.): 5.21
Alcohol (vol.): 4.07
Color: 38
Bitterness: 25
Original Gravity: 1056
Final gravity: n/a
Malts used: n/a
Hops used: n/a
BBC? Good grief! Has the British Broadcasting Corporation turned its hand to brewing? No, this is a porter not from London but Bluegrass country. Deep ruby red rather than black, with a delectable aroma of burnt grain, fresh pipe tobacco, cappuccino coffee and spicy hops. It’s tangy and spicy in the mouth with creamy malt and hints of walnuts. The finish has some pleasing malt sweetness to start but finally becomes dry with whole meal biscuits, coffee and resinous hop notes. Waiter? A dozen oysters!
This beer’s gentle, quiet (but expressive) blond head tells us a lot about itself: “Don’t chill me,” it says. Rich aromatics waft upward, and we are seized with recognition of its fine qualities. Notably the beer’s full taste on the palate demands appreciation. Yesterday, at 38˚F/3˚C (out of the fridge), I thought it a waste of my time. Today, at 55˚F/13˚C (cellar temperature), it is a brewer’s wonder with taste esters to treasure. How nice—and good with curry at any temperature. I’m so glad I tasted this beer twice!
Roger Protz is the author of Complete Guide to World Beer and 300 Beers to Try Before You Die. He is a respected beer authority and editor of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.
Fred Eckhardt lives, writes about and drinks beer in Portland, OR. He is the author of The Essentials of Beer Styleand Saké.
