Adelbert's Darkness Comes Alive Porter

Though they're generally way more known for their Belgian-inspired wares, the good folks at Adelbert's Brewery in Austin have concocted a damn, fine coffee milk porter called Darkness Comes Alive.  And aside from the excellent name, the beer is great too.  Pouring a dark brownish black with a light tan head, the 6% ABV brew smells of roasted malt, coffee, and notes of cocoa, vanilla, and cream.  The flavor is a smooth, medium mouthfeel mix of said roasted malt, coffee, and cocoa notes with some hints of spice and an overall creamy finish.  I very much enjoyed this beer and intend to drink more of it.  You should too.

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Adelbert's Vintage Series #3: Barrel of Love Chocolate Imperial Stout

With our recent cold weather here in Austin, i've been drinking a lot of stouts of late, and with my recent visit to Adelbert's Brewery, i've been digging on their Belgian wares and beers of late too.  That said, Adelbert's Vintage Series #3: Barrel of Love Chocolate Imperial Stout is both a mouthful to say and to drink.  It's delicious!  Aged in bourbon barrels, this one-off batch is heavy on the alcohol, heavy on the chocolate, and just heavy all around.  The beer is dark, dark, dark with a thick, brown head.  Lots of chocolate, toffee, and some dark fruit aromas are present at first pour that soon give way to some more bourbon and oak smells as the beer sits.  I recommend letting it sit and taking your time.  It got tastier with each subsequent swallow, the initial maltiness and sweetness giving way to spicier and heavier flavors.  This beer gets an A+.  I must find more.

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Adelbert's Gypsy Belgian IPA

Austin brewery Adelbert's just released their first collaborative beer, a Belgian IPA called Gypsy that was brewed with Kim Clarke, formerly of the Celis Brewery, and more notable the first female brewmaster in Texas.  The Gypsy is a medium bodied, golden brew with a light and thick head.  The beer smells of citrus and bananas with some light floral hints.  The taste is sweet and hoppy, a light, easy to drink IPA.  If you're not normally an IPA drinker, you may enjoy this tasty collaboration.  Hopheads on the other hand, should probably look elsewhere.

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Adelbert's Black Rhino

My apologies for not obtaining a better photo of this dark delight, but recycling picked up this morning.  The Black Rhino Belgian-style Dark Ale comes to us from Austin's Adelbert's Brewery.  The beer pours dark and light-bodied with a nice, off-white head and gives off a subtle aroma of nuts and hints of dried fruit.  The taste is kind of a smoky blend of roasted, chalky malts, caramel, and some hop spice all with a sour finish.  All in all, not a bad brew, and one that would go great with some stinky cheeses.

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