The Brewery: Southern Tier Brewing Co. (Lakewood, NY)
The Brew: Plum Noir (Imperial Porter with Italian Plum)
Availability: 22 oz. (Spring/Summer)
ABV: 8.0%
Rating: 8/10
Location: Home
The Story? Back in the spring, Southern Tier announced there'd be changes and additions to their lauded Blackwater Series. While morning the loss of their Mokah and Jah-va brews heading to retirement, it is exciting to see the series get a face-lift and add some new, innovative offerings. The first is Plum Noir. The second, called Warlock, is an Imperial Stout with Pumpkin slated for September.
My partner picked up this particular bottle in a stash for a tasting, but we never tapped into it and thus made for an excellent start for an unexpected night in (new babies are reasonable cause for canceling dinner plans).
The Beer? Rich, wet, fruity plum nose. Black color with a minimal off-white head. Refreshingly wet up front with subtle tastes of plum skin. The Chinook hops counter with a pleasantly dry and hoppy finish. A complex, but not overbearing beer.
There's a smooth, roasted earthiness present throughout along with a malt (not fruit) sweetness and a hint of tang in the middle. For a 22 oz. boasting 5 malts and plums, it's all a bit understated.
Overall, a unique take on a drinkable, summer porter. I have to say I was expected a bit more from this beer. The rest of the Blackwater series have been more on the intense side of things, so I was expecting a bit more "wow", so that's worth noting going into it. A solid first release though. I'm interested to see where this one goes.
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