Fireside Smoked Porter – 603 Brewery
Happy Thanksgiving to you all and enjoy this great opportunity to gather as family around the table and share a meal together. We live in an awesome state which provides such riches in so many things, among them; great craft beer! We celebrate one of the best up-and-coming breweries here, 603 Brewery.
603 Brewery, located in Londonderry, NH, offers year-round beers as well as seasonal beers matched to their climate change. Less than 36 months old, 603 has made a momentous mark in the NH craft beer scene. Starting as brewing friends from college, these folks decided to jump in to the emerging craft brew niche with gusto, creativity and a keen angle on NH beer styles employing names and places as their beer varieties. They are today a 15 barrel brew house exclusively sold in NH and distributed widely throughout the state in cans, 22 oz bottles, growlers (half gallon bottles) and kegs for restaurants and taverns. Visit their website at www.603brewery.com
Because the Fireside Smoked Porter is both a seasonal and a truly remarkable beer worthy of review at this time of year, we are bringing it to your attention today. The fall and winter months are when you enjoy heartier beers and this one that truly qualifies.
This beer is extravagant in both smell and taste. When poured into a pint glass, you will be able to place your nose among the fine complexities of a smoked beer. It pours almost black, is frothy with a cascading tan head with retention and lacing more than most porters. Made from toasted malt and chocolate rye grains, your nose will pick up notes of coffee, chocolate, smoke and dark fruits are immediately noticeable along with caramel sweetness. Even though the smokiness is first present, it is not overstated, which is what keeps your attention. The finish is an even earthy bitterness, with a lingering malty mouthfeel. A delicious beer and another shining example of 603’s attention to quality.
This porter stops just short of being a stout, but isn’t that what’s great about truly fine craft beer? And on the label, it says that proceeds of each beer sold goes to organizations that provide shelter and warmth to those in need… another reason to pick up a bottle.
Although BeerAdvocate.com has not yet rated this beer officially, followers of 603 have rated it at 4.0+ out of 5.0 which points out that you should try this before it leaves for the season!
Jim MacMillan is the owner of WonByOne Design of Meredith, NH, and is an avid imbiber of craft brews and a home brewer as well. Send him your recommendations and brew news to
wickedbrews@weirs.com
