The Porter
Leinenkugels Snowdrift Vanilla Porter
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co.
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, USA
6% abv
“Complex Malt Character Reveals Layers of Coffee and Cocoa” –
on the bottle
Appearance: a nice tan head sits on top of an almost coffee like
colored body with some cola edges. Note
much on the lacing. The head was gone
before I noticed it was gone. When I
poured my second glass I had a nice two finger head that took about three
minutes to dissipate and it left a thin tan layer sitting on top.
Aroma: coffee with a roasted vanilla bean
Flavors: pretty much what they have on the label. This is
what I say, ‘sweetened coffee and semi-sweet chocolate with a dose of vanilla
bean.
Mouthfeel: light-moderate bitterness, toasted sweet malts, good
body weight for a porter, a lingering semi-sweet chocolate note on the finish
To the Point: I have to admit that I did not have much hope
for this one. But, I like it. I enjoyed a couple sitting by the campfire
the other week. And two is about all I
can take of this Porter because I start to grow tired of the sweetness.
Thinking of that sweetness … I know what could help battle
it … the right cigar.
The Cigar
Black Crown Robusto Cigar
Wrapper: Honduran Habano
Binders: yes, two: Honduran Habano and Nicaraguan Ligero
Fillers: Seven different long filler from Central America
Size: 5 x 50
Click here to read my last review of this cigar.
For dinner tonight I had a mushroom/swiss brat with southern
style beans and southern style potato salad.
I then selected this beer for doing a review and halfway through the
beer I thought of this cigar for the pairing.
This cigar has a nice spicy style mixed with a forest floor
earthiness and a French Roast Coffee note.
I did not think this cigar was a spicy or full off the light like the
last review but, I had been drinking this Vanilla Porter beforehand and that
could have taken the edge off the flavor profile.
What I am hoping for is this cigar to take the edge off of
this sweet Vanilla Porter.
I think the sweet coffee note of the Porter is mixing with
the French Roast Coffee style of the cigar and giving a little balance
here. The earthy forest floor tones of
the cigar are helping to give the Porter a little more body and I think the
vanilla bean note, in the ale, is a little more distinct. The light-moderate bitterness of the Porter
still seems the same.
I have to say that I am really enjoying this pairing.
