Black Shack Porter

Wachusett Brewing Co.
Westminster, MA

Available: MA, NJ, NY, RI

Handcrafting a diverse line of ales in Westminster, MA, since 1994. The retail and tasting areas make it a fun, accommodating and informative destination for group tours, corporate meetings and private events. Stop in and let Ned, Kevin, and Quinny show you what it means to Enjoy with Friends!

ABV: 5.3
ABW: n/a
Color: black
Bitterness: 45
Original gravity: n/a

Ruddy brown in color, and the foam’s tenacious: good precursor signs. The aroma’s another: bitter chocolate, dry malt, and dried orange peel. It’s light and dry in the mouth, a real go-the-distance drinker with a dash of chocolate and minerals up front and a bitterness that comes through on the finish. This would be good with steak, or beef stew, I suppose, but I think it would really go best with a pitcher and some friends.
- Lew Bryson

Held to a light, the color of this ale immediately entrances with its deep purple hue. On the nose, sweet raisin mixes with plum and light mocha notes, although an immediate hit of roasted malt on the palate belies the fruity, sugary promise of the aroma. Further on, I find more roastiness and some dark chocolate and espresso notes, plus a return of some light plummy fruit, leading to an off-dry and slightly burnt-tasting finish. A nice session porter for a Massachusetts winter.
- Stephen Beaumont

Lew Bryson
Lew Bryson writes about beer and whiskey from his home in southeast Pennsylvania. He has a family and two dogs. That's all you need to know.

Stephen Beaumont
Once described as “beerdom's Brillat-Savarin,” Stephen Beaumont is the author of five books and countless articles on beer, spirits, food, travel, and how it all goes together.

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