Review - Troegs Brewing Company's Dead Reckoning
"Dead Reckoning is unfiltered and weighs in at 5.8% abv and 53 IBU's. It features Pilsner, Caramel, Chocolate and Roasted malts along with Chinook and Vanguard hops. The outstanding taste and flavor of Dead Reckoning originates in the chocolate and roasted malts, says John Trogner. There is a nice hoppiness in the front of the beer, but the rich, smooth mouth feel is what really stands out." -- Bear Republic Brewing
Pours a dark brown color producing a healthy tan colored head with a creamy texture. Body has brilliant clarity below a mostly retained head that leaves fairly sticky reside behind. The initial aroma was a combination of rich chocolate and some floral hops. The combination of hops and slightly roasted malts stuck around for quite some time. For a porter, the hop aroma was quite unexpected and intriguing. We were drooling to see what it tasted like. Initial taste has an interesting blend of hop bitterness and roasted malt character, but the hops fade away towards the finish and a significantly rich malt presence emerges with some chocolate bitterness. Light to medium in body, the creamy texture coated our mouths with a softy buttery feel. Quickly our palates became very dry ~ like so dry that we needed another sip - quickly. The hop bitterness did not dominate the finish, but the hop drying characters were in full force.
The Dead Reckoning is quite complex and different than a standard porter. The hops created a very inviting aroma, while very drying - but not bitter (as you would expect a porter to be). This is a nice deviation from the traditional characteristics of porter style.
Reviewed on September 7th, 2009.
