Vanilla Java Porter, Atwater Block Brewery, Detroit, MI

Disclaimer: I like porters. I like dark beers. I like vanilla. I like coffee.

Atwater Block Brewery in Detroit, MI is apparently trying to ruin all four things for me. Their Vanilla Java Porter is not good. Initially, it seems like the aroma of vanilla could lead towards a good combination in this porter, but the aroma was the highlight for this beer. The taste, from the first sip to the sip right before I poured the rest down the drain, was not pleasant. A friend of mine describes porters and stouts as "metallic", noting the strange sensation of metal in the aftertaste. This one is tastes like it was brewed in an iron mine.

To top it off, the first bottle that I opened was dramatically overcarbonated, erupting onto my kitchen floor. Not a fortuitous beginning.

The only redeeming factor is the healthy 6.0% ABV.

Sadly, I bought a six pack. Now I need to invite over some people who don't read the blog and try to get them to drink the rest of these beers.

Rating = 1.0

I don't think we'll be having Atwater Block Brewery as an advertiser on the site anytime soon...

PS - thanks to some guy on Flickr for the image.

Voodoo Vator, Atwater Block Brewery, Detroit, MI

Yup, I picked up another variety pack and the first offerring I tried was the awesomely named Voodoo Vator. Because, honestly with a name like that how can you start with anything else? The Voodoo Vator is a dark beer and is quite similar to a barleywine as the alcohol is so potent it gives it a slight wine aftertaste. The smoky chocolate malt allows itself to be overpowered by the alcohol, but it still lets you know its there. I wouldn't recommend an evening with the Voodoo Vator because of it's 9.5% ABV, but this is a great beer when you are only having one and want to hang on the dark side of things for the evening. The Vator grabs a 4.0