Ballast Point Black Marlin Porter

This 6.0% ABV porter is from the Ballast Point Brewing Company of San Diego, California. The bottle describes it as a hop forward porter, and a hoppy twist on the classic English porter.

The beer pours a very dark brown to black in appearance. There is a tall, thick, foamy head of light tan. The aroma is mild, creamy, light char, dark chocolate, with a bit of dark, dried fruits. The taste follows the aromas, some char, some chocolate, some dark fruits, a bit tangy, with a dry and moderately bitter finish. The hops really come through on the finish. The beer drinks smooth, with a tingle of carbonation in the background. This is a solid American porter.