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| A dark, delicious pint of Brewers Art Zeke's Coffee Porter. |
It was 13 years ago when I was invited for a late night cocktail that I first discovered The Brewer's Art in Baltimore. It's a smaller brewery housed in a beautiful old mansion in Mt. Vernon, and has a great vibe. If sitting on a sofa or wingback chair by the grand fireplace doesn't appeal to you, the artfully-lighted basement bar is a great escape. Their beers, naturally, go great with the ambiance - full of flavor, and tastefully done.
But it was only last year that I discovered Zeke's Coffee, also from Baltimore. My friend, John, bought me a cup in a local sandwich shop. Hand-roasted with a careful eye (and nose), Zeke's is a wonderfully smooth cup of coffee rich in flavor.
Together, they collaborated to make a 6% ABV porter that is a dark reddish color with slight carbonation, and a definite aroma of cocoa. It's very malty with a mild sweetness and, when combined with the gentle roasted coffee, is a bitter, but very smooth drink that has a dark chocolate hint to the taste.
Normally, I'd steer the casual beer fan away from porters, but this one is worth a try, particularly as a dessert complement - it went amazingly well with the peanut butter cheesecake I was eating with it. Serious fans should definitely have this on the list.
So what are YOUR favorite porters? Let us know or write it in the comments below.
