I have just tasted the Original Flag Porter by the Darwin Brewery of Sunderland. It’s a resurrection of a 19th century porter using a yeast from 1825 salvaged from a wreck in the English Channel matched with a contemporary porter menu. It is magnificent!
There’s a roast malt über-fest in the nose, almost like Marmite, and it’s a rich, black colour with a hint of red and fizzy light head that clings to the glass. The by now fully-whet appetite is in for a smooth taste experience: it’s got coffee and sweet caramel malt flavours. Hops try to fight through but the malt wins hands down.
The essentials:
ABV: 5%
Colour: Pitch black
Nose: Marmite malt overload
Taste: Coffee and dark malts dominate
Our verdict: All too good.
Website: http://www.darwinbrewery.com
