Homebrew 4: Experimental Porter (ExPo)

My goal was to have first porter ready to drink in time for St. Patrick's Day.  I'm not Irish, but I celebrate and appreciate a good beer-based holiday just like everyone else.

I had been planning this one for a while.  It started off with a crazy idea from my sister but then morphed into something slightly different, but equally as experimental.  I started off with a slightly unusual porter that featured a chocolate grain and then added some French dark chocolate (85% cacao) and Reese's Peanut Butter chips.  Interestingly enough, despite being submerged in 155 degree liquid, the peanut butter chips never fully dissolved.  They melted a bit but still remained in chip shape.  Now that I've seen that, it makes me a bit uncertain of what is really in them...but I'm sure that I will continue to eat them by the handful.

It smelled so good that I thought twice before tossing my experimental ingredients in the pot.

Three and a half weeks later...I'll admit, I was nervous to try it.  The chocolate flavor is obvious, but not overpowering.  The beer finishes clean and dry.  The creamy peanut butter flavor is no where to be found, which was slightly disappointing, but I was also somewhat relieved because I wasn't sure what that would taste like...other than a milkshake.  I think it came out quite nice and have overall, I have received positive feedback from my group of volunteer taste testers.  Thank you loyal taste testers!!

Experimental Porter (5.1% ABV)
Suburban Suds Brewery
Chandler, Arizona

Rating:  4 out of 5 pint glasses on the unofficial Suburban Suds rating system.