Black Marlin Porter - Ballast Point Brewing Company

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From BeerAdvocate Magazine Volume II, Issue II:

The carbonation off of a hard pour gives a quick, cascading effect to the head, and what a head it is--a huge rocky, bubbly mass that has some great clinging action on the glass. Nearly all of the way black with dark brown on the edges. Mild charred grain, faint smoke, charcoal, dark-roasted coffee and a little bit of black currant in the aroma. So damn smooth, we're not sure if a beer could be any more smooth. Creamy medium body. Heavy amount of mocha flavor here, with a more cocoa powder and medium-roasted coffee mix. The hops are on too, balancing and throwing some flavor at the taste buds with herbal and faint tobacco flavors. Hint of black currant and chocolate cake batter in the middle. Dry finish with mineral and charred wood flavors.

Jam-packed with flavor and very drinkable, too drinkable if there is such a thing. Ballast Point gives the American Porter respect.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2009 19:34:47 | More by BeerAdvocate

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +1%

05-17-2013 12:23:31 | More by InspectorBob

jwk7324

California

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%

05-16-2013 05:43:23 | More by jwk7324

Zbeetleman

California

3.5/5  rDev -11.6%

05-15-2013 03:37:41 | More by Zbeetleman

KDE

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%

05-13-2013 16:13:45 | More by KDE

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%

05-13-2013 10:56:07 | More by MDDMD

corysmith01

New York

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%

05-09-2013 02:11:05 | More by corysmith01

wonothesane42

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%

05-07-2013 00:29:56 | More by wonothesane42

meangreenc

California

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%

05-04-2013 04:58:09 | More by meangreenc

abex44

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%

04-29-2013 01:36:43 | More by abex44

bubseymour

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%

04-26-2013 23:54:11 | More by bubseymour

EigenBeer

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%

04-24-2013 23:43:16 | More by EigenBeer

deanhead

Vermont

3.5/5  rDev -11.6%

04-18-2013 10:24:44 | More by deanhead

Rekrule

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -17.9%

04-14-2013 04:21:31 | More by Rekrule

zenithberwyn

California

4/5  rDev +1%

04-08-2013 05:26:56 | More by zenithberwyn

valkyre65

Texas

4/5  rDev +1%

04-08-2013 00:29:49 | More by valkyre65

Falcone

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +1%

04-07-2013 21:06:37 | More by Falcone

bostonryan

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1%

04-06-2013 21:37:25 | More by bostonryan

iparaez

California

3/5  rDev -24.2%

04-01-2013 06:51:59 | More by iparaez

salthemonster

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%

04-01-2013 03:01:06 | More by salthemonster

tree777

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%

03-30-2013 20:16:10 | More by tree777

ilikebeer03

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%

03-26-2013 21:27:58 | More by ilikebeer03

Ozzie1111

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +1%

03-24-2013 02:57:32 | More by Ozzie1111

nyrblue2

New York

4/5  rDev +1%

03-24-2013 02:28:22 | More by nyrblue2

doktorhops

Australia

4.2/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Ballast Point Black Marlin Porter, sold cheap as it was nearing expiry date (note: I've never to my knowledge had any beer that tasted bad because it was out of date, does beer even go out of date?). Anyway a bargain is a bargain, and I'm an old school fan of Porters/Stouts- the first beer I liked being Guinness. However my tastes have evolved and gravitate towards APA's, IPA's and BPA's these days, that being said; Porter will always be an old favourite.

Poured from a 650ml bottle into a nonic pint.

A: The body is a deep, dark ruby red, much like Guinness it looks obsidian until you hold it up to the light then realise it is actually a pitch ruby colour. The head explodes like a fizz bomb an dissipates down to thick tan lacing. Looks rich and inviting, as a good Porter should.

S: Roasted coffee, chicory and burnt barley lead the aroma. This is followed by dark chocolate and molasses, reminiscent of Sheaf Stout which was my first review a couple of aeons ago. There is a minor note of pine resin hops in the background, as the bottle suggests this is a mixing of a classic English Porter with APA hops... sounds like a Black & Tan doesn't it.

T: Flavour profile is more complex than expected, yes there is burnt coffee, dark chocolate and molasses. This is partnered with the slight bitter pine resin hop finish (that you wouldn't expect in a Porter) and a full biscuit/caramel malt base. The boldness of the typical Porter coffee/chocolate/molasses doesn't make it easy to identify the other flavours but they're there nonetheless.

M: Medium bodied, dense but light carbonation with some fusel oil characters thrown in.

D: A damn fine American Porter... come to think of it I don't think I've ever tried an American Porter, if they're all this good I will definitely try more. Price is a bit of a sticking point here in Australia, most American beers are horribly overpriced/taxed, making the experience not fun on the old calf skin. But this aside it is a good good Porter - bold, expressive and brooding.

Food match: The mocha flavours make it good as both a dessert beer and a roast game meats, hard cheese beer. My ideal meal to go with this (not eating meat because I am a vegetarian and all) is a grilled portabello mushroom sliced and served on Soba noodles with Kecap Manis drizzled heavily on top.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 08:41:54 | More by doktorhops