Tasting Notes: Boggart Rum Porter
Brewery: Boggart Hole Clough
Location: Manchester, England
ABV: 4.7%
Version: Bottled
Source: Manchester Farmer's Market
Of the three Boggart Hole beers I bought a few months back, this is the one I had the highest hopes for. The potential combination of exotic sweetness from the rum and the smoky bitterness of the porter was an intriguing one.
Alas, it didn't quite live up to expectation when the time came – the beer poured well: dark ruby body, thick, frothy tan head, enticingly fruity, spirit aroma on the nose. But both the taste and mouth-feel turned out to be less impressive. For a start, I think the beer was probably over-carbonated as there was a definite fizz on the tongue. And as I'm sure I've mentioned before, I do prefer a stout or porter with a creamier, silkier mouth-feel (like Boggart's own Chocolat Noir for instance).
As for that anticipated blend of flavours, well, the rum did give it an interesting edge, to begin with. But after a while it seemed as thought the rum was conspiring with the porter's own coffee characteristics to add more of a sour than a sweet note (although I wonder if perhaps that was another side-effect of the carbonation?) It wasn't quite enough to ruin the overall experience - the beer was still drinkable enough to finish - but overall, Boggart Rum Porter was a long way from the best of the stouts and porters I've tried recently.
Of the three Boggart beers in that Farmer's Market pack I picked up, I'd have to say that the Chocolat Noir was the definite winner, with the Waterloo Sunset Porter coming in a close second and the Rum Porter lagging in third place. And given the cost of the three-pack (£10 iirc) it seems unlikely that I'll be picking up another one any time soon. Although if I can actually find the Boggart Brewery some time (it's only about 10 mins. from my place after all) then I'd happily try a few of their other brews. It's even more important than ever to support your local producers, after all.
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"I'd happily try a few of their other brews". Well good luck with THAT quest. If you really want to find Boggart beers, get out into the pubs man. The free trade is awash with them.
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I very much enjoyed a pint of this Rum Porter in my local Wetherspoon the other day. It was beautifully balanced, with the rum being very much in the fore without overpowering the creaminess of the porter.
I can indeed imagine it being spoilt by carbonation.
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Cheers Tim, good to hear it holds its own in draught form. I'll have to keep my eye out and give it a second go.
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I collected a 12 bottle mix yesterday for me and my two brother in laws to try this weekend in Scotland, the Rum Porter being one of the four brews bought. I found them no problem (only a couple of miles from my place of work), but the brewery is moving premises as I type to Oldham Road.
Unlike my in-laws, I'm new to the 'real ale' experience having had my tastebuds numbed on a diet of lager and cider for the last 19 legal years, so will only be able to say like or dislike, but I'm pleased to have found a small local brewery.
The move must be a reflection on their success!
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Hi there, and welcome to the frankly rather wonderful world of real ale, real-ale-in-a-bottle, cask ale, craft ale, microbrewed beer... whatever the brewers are calling it.
Boggart are quite local to me as well (I live in Prestwich) and I'm a fan of a couple of their other brews (particularly the Chocolat Noir), I just wasn't blown away by the rum finish. Then again, I wasn't hugely impressed by Innis & Gunn's rum finish beer when I sampled one the other week (tasting notes to follow) so perhaps it's just that I'm not too keen on the flavour profile...
Anyhow, do stick around and share your impression of any other Boggart beers you try, or point us in the direction of anything else you come across that's particularly tasty - all suggestions most welcome!
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