Remember Oregon Original Blackberry Porter? I sure do. Oregon Originals was a Boston Beer (think Samuel Adams) brand in the 90s, and the blackberry porter was one of their most memorable beer. For me anyway. The beer was only around for a few years, and it has been sorely missed by me ever since. I’ve never been able to find anything close to that beer in the 20 years or so since I sipped my last bottle. Until now….
Enter Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Blackberry Porter from Alltech Lexington Brewing. On the bottle, they call this Imperial Porter with natural flavor and artificial color added aged in oak bourbon barrels. So, it’s a bit stronger and more complex than the Blackberry Porter from Oregon Originals. In its own way, it’s a beer I may like just as much, too.
From the Alltech website:
New to the Barrel-Aged Seasonal Series, a dark porter aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels infused with blackberries to bring you from winter to spring
This is a big and dark beer with bold flavors to ease you into spring. Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Blackberry Porter porter has been brewed with the official state fruit of Kentucky and aged in bourbon barrels. This spring seasonal comes out with the bold roasted malt flavors complemented by a nose of fresh blackberries.
Ingredients from the website:
Hops: Centennial
Malts: 2 Row Pale, Dark Munich, Crystal 80L, Chocolate, Carapils
Alltech Lexington Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Blackberry Porter has an alcohol content of 8.3% by volume with 16 IBUs. Now comes the bad part, the price. Like all of the beers in this line, Alltech Lexington Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Blackberry Porter runs $14.99 for four bottles, which is ridiculous.
Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Blackberry Porter pours to a deep purple color not unlike ripe blackberry fruit with thick creamy head and an enticing berries and cream nose. Taking a sip, I get a thinner than expected body with deep chocolate notes and luscious fruity blackberry. I really love the way the blackberry fruit interacts with the chocolaty porter. The barrel aging shows up mid to late in the palate with a boozy alcohol bourbon contribution and hints of oak, and there’s warm alcohol in the finish.
A little pricey, actually a lot pricey, but I would be lying if I said I wouldn’t buy it again. A little more body and chocolate and this would be perfect, but Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Blackberry Porter is truly delicious. Boozy notes, chocolate and blackberry fruit. What’s not to like? On its own merits, I would give this one 4 ½ stars, but the high price and missing two bottles means a full star demerit.
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
(G)=Growler