Bad Elmer’s Porter

Upland’s Bad Elmer’s Porter is an approachable example of an American Porter with a few minor problems. This brown-black brew with a medium cream-colored stand of head and moderate carbonation has an aroma of black malt sharpness with a background of chocolate. The flavor has an evident base malt backbone on which a somewhat low to moderate level of Chocolate and Brown malt richness and flavor is built. While the balance is towards the maltier side of things in this one, there is still a light to moderate hop bitterness behind the malt to help give at least some balance – as is appropriate for the style. There is a bit of a sulfur note that comes through in the middle and finish similar to what you’d see if Pils malt were used in the grain bill. The body of this brew is also a bit thin for the style. This is a quite refreshing brew, but the expectation for a porter would be for a considerably higher level of Brown malt and Chocolate malt complexity. Still, this is a nice effort and quite quaffable.