Beer of the Weekend #330: Cocoa Porter Winter Warmer
The beer of the weekend is Cocoa Porter Winter Warmer, brewed by the Tommyknocker Brewery & Pub of Idaho Springs, Colorado.
Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The clearly marked “BEST BY” date printed on the label is “May 14 12.”
Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color looks black but I think it is very dark brown; light passed through when I held it to a lamp. A pathetic pour (my fault) yielded a pathetic, one-finger of lightly tanned head, which dissipated quickly to leave a bubbly ring around the edge.
Smell: Cocoa — surprise, surprise. Caramel, dark chocolate, and dark malts keep it from being too hot chocolaty and there are hints of roasted malts. The label says honey is added but I do not smell it.
Taste: The flavors are muted and the mouthfeel is watery. The taste, though, mostly mirrors the smell: cocoa, dark chocolate, and dark malts. The roasted malts, however, play a much more prominent role. They do not dominate, but the roasted quality is much more pronounced in the taste.
Drinkability: This is pretty lackluster beer. It is porter with training wheels.
Fun facts about CPWW:
-Style: The folks at Tommyknocker obviously consider it a winter warmer, but the BA Bros classify it as “American Porter.”
-Price: $10.99/sixer at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.
-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.
-Alcohol content: 5.7 percent ABV.
-Food pairings: BA recommends barbecue, buttery cheeses (Brie, Gouda, Havarti, Swiss), chocolate, beef, smoked meat, and grilled meat.
-Nerdiness from the beer’s webpage:
-Nerdiness from the label:
-Idaho Springs is a little hamlet along Interstate 70 west of Denver. It is, as I remember, the first notable town after the rise of the Rockies from the Grain Plains.
The Quiet Man’s grade: C.
Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The clearly marked “BEST BY” date printed on the label is “May 14 12.”
Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color looks black but I think it is very dark brown; light passed through when I held it to a lamp. A pathetic pour (my fault) yielded a pathetic, one-finger of lightly tanned head, which dissipated quickly to leave a bubbly ring around the edge.
Smell: Cocoa — surprise, surprise. Caramel, dark chocolate, and dark malts keep it from being too hot chocolaty and there are hints of roasted malts. The label says honey is added but I do not smell it.
Taste: The flavors are muted and the mouthfeel is watery. The taste, though, mostly mirrors the smell: cocoa, dark chocolate, and dark malts. The roasted malts, however, play a much more prominent role. They do not dominate, but the roasted quality is much more pronounced in the taste.
Drinkability: This is pretty lackluster beer. It is porter with training wheels.
Fun facts about CPWW:
-Style: The folks at Tommyknocker obviously consider it a winter warmer, but the BA Bros classify it as “American Porter.”
-Price: $10.99/sixer at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.
-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.
-Alcohol content: 5.7 percent ABV.
-Food pairings: BA recommends barbecue, buttery cheeses (Brie, Gouda, Havarti, Swiss), chocolate, beef, smoked meat, and grilled meat.
-Nerdiness from the beer’s webpage:
Cocoa Porter Winter Warmer Ale has been specially brewed in celebration of the old world tradition of Porters and European Winter Warmers. The addition of pure cocoa powder and honey to each barrel of this unique ale enhances a winter season filled with warm friendships and good times.
-Nerdiness from the label:
Tommyknockers slipped into the mining camps of Idaho Springs in the 1800’s with the discovery of gold in our mountains and streams. These mischievous elves, though hardly ever seen, were often heard singing and working. They guided many fortunate miners from harm’s way and to the gold they sought.
-Idaho Springs is a little hamlet along Interstate 70 west of Denver. It is, as I remember, the first notable town after the rise of the Rockies from the Grain Plains.
The Quiet Man’s grade: C.
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