Salopian Brewing Company Entire Butt Traditional PorterFeb 18 '05 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line It has potential - a stronger, thicker version of the porters I've gotten used to, but my bottle was a bit old.
As a beer drinker, I am always on the look out for something new and different. Of course, I have my old stand-bys, but there is something magical about seeing a beer that you've only heard about, or one that is new entirely and picking it up to try it out. So, when I visit my local bottle-shop, I'm always searching their latest and greatest for something different. Sometimes, it's a familiar brewery with a new brew that gets my attention. Sometimes its a style that I'm in the mood for and I go for a brand I've yet to drink. Other times, it's a name that I've heard from others on this site, and finally have the opportunity to try. And sometimes there is something that just catches my eye and says, "You must buy me now. Yes, now. No, put down that weak stuff, and get a REAL beer". So, when I saw a beer called Entire Butt, I couldn't help but pick it up. The label on the bottle proclaimed it to be a 'real' English-style porter, which was good enough for me to try. Brewed by Salopian brewing company, it came in a cool bottle, seemed to have a unique style and while not cheap, was priced to try. So I picked it up with only the slightest giggle at the name. [ • about Salopian brewing company • ] It was hard to find out a lot of information about this brewery since their homepage is still just a placeholder at this point. From what I could gather, they were started in 1995 by Martin Barry, and produced a variety of bottle-conditioned ales. However, they closed in 1997 until a new set of capital allowed them to reopen in 1998, although a large portion of their brewing takes place at Hepworth & Company in Horsham. At present, it seems that they are making about 9 beers, including a dark wheat, a gooseberry and V.S.O.P. (Very Special Old Pale). [ • a kick in THE BUTT • ] Entire Butt is an attempt to return to a hardier-style Porter, more similar to the older, thicker traditionals that are no longer really produced. In many ways they have done just that - this is not your brother's American porter. First of all, Entire Butt manages to pack in 14 malts: pale man's otter, lager, wheat, pale crystal, dark crystal, dark chocolate, pale chocolate, black, roast barley, cara malt, torrified wheat, amber, brown and malted oats. Add to that 3 different hops (thought to be Styrians, Goldings and Fuggles, though that's just a guess since it isn't on the label), and you have one full beer. But how was it? Well, I pulled out my trusty English pint, and figured that I would have a go at this beer. I started the pour and was delivered a thick beer that was a deep, deep black with a thick tan head that was foamy and bready. I wasn't sure if this was a good or bad sign, but the nose made me more intrigued. Dark, earthy tones predominated, with the roasted oats adding a coffee-like undertone. However, there was a slightly musty accent to the nose that troubled me. I can't be sure that it wasn't the glass, but it was definitely there. But, being the trooper that I am, I forged ahead. The taste was worth it. A dark and earthy taste matched the nose exactly, giving a very full flavor with roasted coffee flavor and a complexity born of the 14 malts and 3 hops varieties. The flavors were all over the place, roasted oats here and a creamier flavor there, but a surprisingly smooth mouth feel to it, if a bit thin. I didn't detect a whole lot of bitterness except for a tad at the finish. It was here that I think something might have been just a wee bit off. My bottle stated that it was best used by 12/4/04 - so mine was about 2 months past, and I think that it might have seen better days. The label suggests serving this beer only slightly chilled (58° F), although I think mine was a little cooler than that. As a bottle-conditioned beer, I was expecting some sediment, and the company advises pouring to avoid disturbing the yeast - but there was no sediment that I could see, despite it being 2 months past the date. [ • beer SPECIFICS • ] • Awards: 1999 silver medal at GBBF •ABV: 4.8% • IBU: unknown • Shelf-Life: about 1 year • Serving Temperature: 58° F (slightly chilled) • Calories (per 12 oz.): unknown • Carbs: unknown [ • final THOUGHTS • ] While I enjoyed this beer, and I think that I would like to try some more 'traditional porters', I think that mine might have been a bit old. It was tasty but had just a bit more tartness than I would have expected at the finish, and the musty smell was a bit off-putting. That being said, I think that a fresher bottle would be an enjoyable treat for those wanting to try something just a bit different from your standards, and this one has the makings of a rather ambitious porter. [ • more INFORMATION • ] The Salopian Brewing Company Ltd The Brewery 67 Mytton Oak Road Shrewsbury SY3 8UQ www.salopianbrewery.co.uk  |
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