from the mountain top

I just can't stop with the black beers now!  We've had some Irish style weather recently, so it makes sense to seek out those Irish style beers.  Cerveza Bailandera has a nice porter, or at least it looked nice on the shelf.  It was the last one, so that seems like an endorsement.

It's just dark brown, letting light through on the bottom, but the aroma is strong and sweet.  It promises a good malty flavor.  While there is some malt in it, the taste is smokier than the scent would suggest, and still very smooth.  At some point in the middle there are some sweet notes that just barely poke the palate, but they are surrounded with a bitter earthiness on all sides.  It's so smooth I have no trouble labeling it an oatmeal stout, and it even has the softness a cream stout can boast about.  The sweetness is really held in check, though.  Eventually a kind of sour aftertaste builds up, but the drink remains light.  Although a porter, it's a very light and unassuming beer unless you're paying close attention to it.  A good sipper, or with dessert, and certainly a nice accompaniment to conversation.

Supplier: Cerevisia
Price: €2.90