Another recently established microbrewery, the Royal Tunbridge Wells Brewing Co., has produced a very characterful porter in its Beau. The 
porter is named after the famous 18th century dandy Beau Nash, master of ceremonies in the Kent spa town at a time when it was a seedy escape for London’s socialites.
The first thing that hits you when you open the Beau is the intense smell of Marmite, or the similar yeast extract Vegemite to our antipodean friends. It’s accompanied by a hint of chocolate in the nose, but when you drink the stuff it then gets confusing…in a nice way.
There is so much to take in you can only close your eyes and savour it. Let’s start with the texture – it’s fairly full bodied but not as you’d expect it to be on first inspection. On tasting your buds go wild trying to pick out myriad flavours. The company claims “coffee, dark chocolate, hint of liquorice and a nice balance ofmalty sweetness and hop bitterness”, and I definitely got chocolate and fennel, but not too much sweetness. It’s very bitter.
I didn’t used to like porters, put off somewhat by the proliferation of Guinness, but I’m coming round to them now thanks in large part to fabulous creations such as the Beau. Unfortunately, I think you’ll struggle to find the Beau outside of West Kent.
The essentials:
ABV: 4.8%
Colour: Jet black
Nose: Marmite, malty chocolate
Taste: Chocolate, fennel, malt
Our verdict: Deep and fully loaded with character, the Beau lives up to its French name in every way. Give it a spin wherever you can find it.
Website: http://www.royaltunbridgewellsbrewing.co.uk
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