BEER: Bright ‘Staircase’ Porter (Bright, Vic)
5.7% alc

It’s cool but not cold here in Sydney tonight, which too me is dark beer drinking weather. Or at least thats the excuse. This came as part of a mixed 6 pack I picked up from Jules at North Sydney Cellars, one of my local fine wine merchants who carries a range of fine ales.

And fine it is, with a toasted, choc malted grain nose, leading to a palate that is chocolatey, bitter and smoky, with charcoal malted grain overtones balanced with just enough palate richness. The back of the bottle gets it very right suggesting smoky cocoa powder flavours and a late whiff of black forest cherry.

A delicious, chocolatey dark ale/stout this is rather delicious, hearty and long, finishing bitter, but refreshingly so. Tasty stuff.