OK, I had to ask it. Just what the heck is “Dieselpunk” anyway? See, before I picked up my first four-pack of Dieselpunk Porter, I had no idea. No idea of the name, anyway. As it turned out I had seen plenty examples of dieselpunk in movies and comic books, I just hadn’t known that they were, well, dieselpunk. Here’s the definition, and I quote, from Wikipedia:
“Dieselpunk is an art style based on the aesthetics popular between World War I and the end of World War II. The style combines the artistic and genre influences of the period (including pulp magazines, serial films, film noir, art deco, and wartime pin-ups) with postmodern technology and sensibilities. First coined in 2001....”
In point of fact, I’ve seen examples of the art style now known as dieselpunk before 2001 when the term was apparently coined. If you haven’t, or still don’t really know what I’m talking about, just hop on down to the grocery store and pick up some Dieselpunk beer, and you will. Just look at the label.
Dieselpunk Porter is one of three Dieselpunk beers I’ve seen, the other two being a stout and an IPA. The dieselpunk website says that their beers are sold at the following location: Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Dillon's, Baker's, Smith's, Fry's, Food 4 Less, Foods Co., QFC,City Market, and King Soopers. I picked up a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans for $5.99 at Kroger, but you can buy the beer in 6-packs of glass bottles as well.
Dieselpunk Porter is brewed by “World Brews”, a division of “Winery Exchange”, a company that contract brews brands specifically for supermarkets. Dieselpunk Porter is contract brewed in Rochester, New York, at the Genesee Brewing Company. It has an alcohol content of 6.5% by volume and the company describes it as follows:
A distinct tasting, dark Porter boasting an underworld edge. Roasted barley, chocolate, coffee and caramel malts meld to deliver a defining caramel taste.
And here’s what I think:
Dieselpunk Porter pours to a dark brown to light black color with a large creamy tan head formation and a very faint nose of roasted malts. Taking a sip, the beer has light chocolate and coffee, cookie-like maltiness, a definite roastiness to it with light undertones of caramel all leading into a balanced roasty bitterness. I have to say this is a decent brown porter that is satisfying and drinkable. The roasty finish really grows on you, and I’m definitely enjoying the dark malty goodness going on here.
To be sure, this isn’t the best porter in the world, but then what porter really is? If you’re looking to pick up a six-pack of a solid mildly roasty brown porter that balances flavor with value, you could do a lot worse than Dieselpunk Porter. Oh, and the label is really nifty too.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft