24 June 2010

On the up

A quick Google tells me Black Diamond's Peak XV has only been with us a couple of weeks at this stage. The 8% ABV imperial porter is made with fresh vanilla and California cocoa nibs. And, perhaps because it's so young, is incredibly fizzy at first. Mountains of head piled up as I poured, though subsided relatively quickly leaving a layer of tan foam on the surface.

From this there comes an oddly sharp aroma with a strangely green and herbal character: I get the distinct impression that, a journey of 5,000 miles notwithstanding, this stuff isn't quite ready for drinking yet. Chocolate is the main flavour: dry and dusty like cocoa powder. The vanilla is present too, adding a depth and richness otherwise lacking in this busily youthful but quite two-dimensional beer. The only other beer badged as "imperial porter" that I can think of is Flying Dog's Gonzo, and this has none of the big hop complexities present there.

The texture is relatively heavy, and once the head has settled it's as smooth and ungassy as this sort of beer should be -- a bit of a prickle livening up the mild alcohol burn as it slips down.

At the moment, Peak XV is a big, cacophonous powerhouse of sharp, unsubtle, unblended flavours. While I enjoyed it, I recommend a year or two's cellaring before approaching the thick moulded plastic seal over the cap.

11 comments:

  1. Certainly sounds like something to put away to moulder in the back of the cellar for a few years! Looking at that plastic cap reminds me I have some bottling wax knocking around for bottles of my annual barleywine - really should get round to using it.

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  2. I have to say I am against bottling wax. De Molen use it and I always end up with hands covered in a red greasy mess after opening one of those. This wasn't sealed with wax, but with a hard, thick vinyl-like substance that was a nightmare to hack through, the pull tab being totally unhelpful.

    Down with bottling wax.

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  3. I was about to ask if they serve any useful purpose on top of crown caps, other than aesthetics. I also find waxed bottles sticky and unpleasant.

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  4. Though enticingly hairless...

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  5. Which reminds me, two of my (male) neighbours were discussing the merits of waxing versus shaving backs and chests over beers last week. I pretended not to understand.

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  6. Must be the bohemian in me, but I can see no appeal in shaving chest and back, it is bad enough doing the face every couple of days. Perhaps a beard is in order eventually.

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  7. *facepalm*
    What have I started?

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  8. So, doing my best to ignore the chest-waxing conversation...

    I have never heard of this brewer or this beer, but I'm now intrigued. I have heard of Gonzo by Flying Dog but haven't tried it. A few other imperial porters I can think of are the Signature Series Imperial Porter by Shipyard (based in Maine), the Imperial Porter by Rogue Ales (based in Oregon - I haven't had this, it's pretty new I think), and the "Victory at Sea" Coffee Vanilla Imperial Porter by Ballast Point (based in San Diego). The latter is my favorite imperial porter that I've tried.

    And since you started it - is that how they spell cacophonous in the British Isles? With two A's? =P

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  9. No, that would be a typo. Ta.

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  10. Barry M is concerned for me after this. I am going to acknowledge his concern and tread carefully.

    I have not yet found this beer near me, but I'm hopeful it's coming to a store nearby soon.

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