Sometimes you make a beer that just nails it. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does…wow! Olde Persica Porter is one of those beers.

• The Basics
  • Original gravity = 1.060, final gravity = 1.016, abv = 5.8%, estimated IBU = 37
• Aroma
  • Smoky and rich, really nicely balanced. The smokiness has subsided a bit since first sampling a few weeks back, but is still quite pleasant. It’s hard to find the exact words for the smoke character, but it’s about spot-on for what I like in a beer.
• Appearance
  • Brown head with decent retention; deep, chocolate brown beer, with decent clarity.
• Flavor
  • The malts are wonderfully at the centerpiece of this beer. A moderate smokiness, roastiness, and slight hint of chocolate combine into something incredibly tasty.
• Mouthfeel
  • This beer has a moderate body, and a smooth finish. Carbonation is right about perfect.
• Would I brew this again?
  • In a heartbeat! This ranks up there as probably one of the best beers I have ever made. The smokiness and overall body combine beautifully in this one. A week or so back I was thinking I needed to up the smoked malt percentage (as the smoke character faded over time), but now I’m not so convinced of that. I’ll keep it as is (although might adjust my boil slightly to achieve a slightly greater final gravity). This is one of those beers made for a cold night in front of the fire, and I’ve done exactly that.
• Overall
  • 10/10