Elemental Porter I Renaissance Brewing Co.
New Zealand
ABV: 6.0%
IBU'S: unavailable
Style: Porter
Colour: Fuschia
ABV: 6.0%
IBU'S: unavailable
Style: Porter
Colour: Fuschia
New Zealand beers aren't exactly well known or readily available in Ontario, but some random LCBO's will sometimes carry beers from Renaissance Brewing Company, a highly awarded brewery out of Marlborough. My advice: if you happen to see one, buy it, especially if it's the Elemental Porter. Whether you're a fan of porters or not this is a beer that shouldn't be passed up, and if hot summer days aren't your favourite time for drinking an oil-thick, 6% ale that's best served close to room temperature, then throw it in the fridge until winter and prepare yourself for a beer boner when you re-discover it this December behind the pickle jar.
Elemental would probably be best described as a contemporary porter, as it retains all the qualities of a classic English porter but also adds some modern depth of flavour as well as a bit of hop character that's used for flavour, not just balance. The first thing that'll hit you when drinking Elemental is its full body and ultra-smooth and satiny mouthfeel. I had this beer after drinking a Wellington Dark Ale, which is a pretty tasty beer but which suffers from a hollow and bubbly mouthfeel. The difference between Elemental and Wellington Dark Ale was so insane that it's mind-boggling. I know that comparing a dark ale to a porter isn't exactly fair, but the difference in overall refinement was so vast that it served as a stark reminder to not forget about the rest of the worlds beer while getting caught up in the Ontario beer scene.
Anyways, Elemental is a gem, providing an incredibly complex flavour profile featuring all of the usual porter suspects: dark chocolate, caramel, coffee beans, dark fruits, vanilla and nuts can all be detected at some point. This package is all tied in with a beautiful roasty background and finishes super dry with a tinge of bitterness to balance out all the sweet malty flavours. The aroma and aftertaste are equally pleasant, and honestly I couldn't think of a single thing that I didn't like about this beer. Having said that, porters are my jam so of course I'm gonna be all about this beer. If, on the other hand, you don't like big, complex and sweet beers, then you may be overpowered by this one, and your palate should be ashamed of itself.
Elemental would probably be best described as a contemporary porter, as it retains all the qualities of a classic English porter but also adds some modern depth of flavour as well as a bit of hop character that's used for flavour, not just balance. The first thing that'll hit you when drinking Elemental is its full body and ultra-smooth and satiny mouthfeel. I had this beer after drinking a Wellington Dark Ale, which is a pretty tasty beer but which suffers from a hollow and bubbly mouthfeel. The difference between Elemental and Wellington Dark Ale was so insane that it's mind-boggling. I know that comparing a dark ale to a porter isn't exactly fair, but the difference in overall refinement was so vast that it served as a stark reminder to not forget about the rest of the worlds beer while getting caught up in the Ontario beer scene.
Anyways, Elemental is a gem, providing an incredibly complex flavour profile featuring all of the usual porter suspects: dark chocolate, caramel, coffee beans, dark fruits, vanilla and nuts can all be detected at some point. This package is all tied in with a beautiful roasty background and finishes super dry with a tinge of bitterness to balance out all the sweet malty flavours. The aroma and aftertaste are equally pleasant, and honestly I couldn't think of a single thing that I didn't like about this beer. Having said that, porters are my jam so of course I'm gonna be all about this beer. If, on the other hand, you don't like big, complex and sweet beers, then you may be overpowered by this one, and your palate should be ashamed of itself.
