Beer Sampling - Short's Brewing Co.'s Black Cherry Porter

Among the myriad of MI-area beers I brought back, Short's Brewing Co.'s Black Cherry Porter was included. Based on what I've seen on the shelves, their bottled beers are varied and vast. I've tried their Soft Parade (fruit infused rye ale) and their Huma Lupa Licious (IPA). I was really tempted to pick-up, if only for novelty's sake, their Bloody Beer, a "light bodied beer fermented with Roma tomatoes and spiced with dill, horseradish, peppercorns, and celery seed." YUM. Who wouldn't want one of those on a Sunday morning?!

Anyway, I dragged back a six-pack of the Black Cherry Porter and shared four with my brother and father-in-law. There's no description on their website for the beer, so you'll have to trust me and rely on mine if you're interested in its flavor profile. Here we go!

Short's Black Cherry Porter

Short's Brewing Co. Black Cherry Porter - 7.0%abv; brewed with black cherry puree; color-wise, this beer is dark, almost oil-like; there are some very slight red tinges in the head, which is a bit frothy and sits at about a quarter inch; the lacing is substantial and stays on the glass well after a sip subsides; the nose is very dark roasted, almost bitter; there is a very light sweetness in the aroma; that said, there really isn't any cherry flavor here; it's pretty bitter on the tongue, almost coffee roasted; again, some very light sweetness in flavor but the cherry is non-distinguished; interesting taste for sure and heavy like a porter!

Denver Beer Company, Denver

Denver Beer Company, visited on 2/18/12  (http://denverbeerco.com/)

After our long day of beer at various Denver-area locations, we ended our Saturday at Denver Beer Company. The location of this brewery is practically unbeatable for downtown: right on Platte by the river in a huge and spacious industrial-vibe warehouse-y building. Most of the front of the facility is lined with the summer-appealing glass garage doors which I'm sure also lends itself well to the sun shining through in the cooler months. We were here late on a Saturday in February, so none of these positive traits prevailed in our visit. However, a few negative ones did.

Here's what we drank:

Graham Cracker Porter - real dark in color; nice half-inch head; solid lacing; good coffee aroma; very minimally sweet; good light porter flavor; very drinkable, although I desire a bit more taste in a "graham cracker" beer.

Powder Day DIPA - no clue about hops, booze, or anything else; dim amber color; light lacing; good hoppy aroma; light grapefruit; tastes too light in IBUs for a double; easy drinking; expect more from anything calling itself a double IPA.

In general, there's a cool industrial vibe brew pub; I might be wrong however, but there may have been a straight-brimmed hat dooshbag convention here that night. It may have had something to do with being somewhere newish, downtown, on a Saturday during Mardi Gras, but the crowd was less than awesome. They sell $5 soft pretzels, but that's it for food. They are giant...and look great...but a little 'undone'. Chili Billy Quesadillas was here but we didn't indulge...their menu looks good. My last note on the clientele: how many people with double ear piercings can high five each other in a 60-minute period? DBC has the answer.

Despite my notes from the night-of, I want to go back. I have to believe that such a cool location/building so close to where I lived in LoDo has the redeeming qualities I think it has, or should. Despite all of it, I wasn't overly impressed with the beer. I'm hoping a return visit in the warmer months, maybe during the week, will shed a better light on the brewery. I think some of the beer kinks are reflective of 'not having been in the game' long enough. That said, there's definite potential for the beer, the brewery, and DBC as a whole...why hasn't anyone called themselves Denver Brewing until now?!

Elk Mountain Brewing, Parker

Elk Mountain Brewing, visited on 1/31/12  (http://www.elkmountainbrewing.com/)

After cancelling a gym membership in Parker (oh the irony), I felt the distinct need to visit the town's only brewery. Elk Mountain is a simple little brewpub tucked away in an obscure commercial strip in Parker. The place still manages to feel like a neighborhood bar. There's no food offered but there is a little popcorn machine, games and several mounted TVs for 'sports-watchin'. Elk Mountain, at about 4PM on a Tuesday, had a row of 8 or so men and women enjoying their brews. There's a blue-collar feel here despite the fact Parker isn't really all that blue-collar. The barkeep was friendly and I chatted up a man sitting next to me who's son works back east in small-arms training/physical security in MD. Small world.

I tried three beers, all of which were quite good. I walked out with a growler of the last one I tried, and after finishing the growler last night with Holly, vowed to return for a fill or two of the same beer. Or another...

Wild Wapiti Hefeweizen Wheat - 5.5abv; good yellow/golden hue; cloudy, but not full of sediment...I imagine this is not unfiltered; good quarter inch head, light lacing; as with many hefes, there is a VERY noticeable banana flavor; crisp taste; smells a little bitter, doesn't taste bitter at all; smells 'wheaty'; good beer, very easygoing; lack of overall complexity, but a great summer beer I'm sure. Despite always trying hefes, and usually never being overtly impressed, this was an impressive beer to session for the lighter-palate crowd.

Elk Horn Oatmeal Stout - 7.2abv; debated on this or Vanilla Caramel Porter for a second pint; this beer is dark; there is no head, almost no lacing; coffee and cocoa on the nose; strong oatmeal flavor; a touch of sweet that almost goes unnoticed; a little bitter on the back end; I'm curious about any hops used; hardy beer perfect for winter; I'm almost instantly full; overall a great stout flavor with an abv wallop you can't even taste. Good beer, great oatmeal stout.

Vanilla Caramel Porter - 6.3abv; I took town a 2 oz taster of this and LOVED it; ultimately left with a 64 oz growler; growler was a reasonable $5, fill of this winter season was $12...worth it! Good quarter-plus inch head; again, very dark; companion at the bar says 'dessert beer'; smells exceptionally like caramel and vanilla; great nose overall; heavy on caramel in flavor; despite the flavor and color, this beer isn't overly heavy; repeat sips really brings out the caramel; delicious beer. Not quite dessert, but certainly sweet and yummy, perhaps nonetheless an 'apertif beer'. H and I really enjoyed the growler...and I think I've found a beer lineup she can really get behind: slightly sweet, but definitely dark...she's a porter/stout girl.

Good stuff Elk Mountain...I'll be back for a growler fill soon!