Year of New Beer: Mesquite Smoked Porter, Ranger Creek Brewing (TX)

Written By: Dion on 02/11/2014

The nose is about all things campfire & BBQ as a hefty smoke and woody char lead the way, ushering in aromas of cooked meats and the faintest hints of cherry (more on that in a minute). On the tongue the smoke is more assertive, with a stern roasted malt and bitter chocolate drying the palate. Just a touch over-carbonated, a slight cherry funkiness seems to indicate a potentially infected bottle. In some beers this would be a deal-breaker, but in this one, the tartness works, and I like it. Big thanks to my Texas connection, Mark Eslick for gifting me this one.