Unsolicited Review from RateBeer.com.
Mar 1, 2009
Tap at Toronado, San Diego. After I started drinking the beer, I talked with the guy next to me at the bar. Turns out Jesse is the roaster at Caffe Calabria (only a half block from Toronado - gotta love North Park) which provided the coffee for this beer. He explained the details of how Ballast brewed with the coffee he provided. Anyway, I liked the beer so much that I had to get a growler fill at the Scripps Ranch location. Pours an almost pitch black with 3/4 inch of tan-colored head. Nose is more cocoa powder than coffee. The taste starts with chocolate then moves into the coffee -- a nice roasted coffee flavor that is balanced well, not too strong. Slightly bitter in the finish. This is a very big beer at 12% but the alcohol is hidden well. Caffe Calabria also provides the coffee for the Offshore Porter from Pizza Port (Solana Beach). But this is much better. Altogether a great beer.
daleharshman, San Diego, California, USA
© 2009 San Diego Brewers Guild