I hadn’t gone camping in a couple of years so when the opportunity presented itself this past weekend I jumped at the chance to go. I have a couple of beers in my fridge that have just been sitting there waiting for a special occasion to get opened. On this particular trip, I decided to go with the Stone Smoked Porter since I was going to be outdoors in the near freezing weather and this would be a nice warmer for the occasion.
On a separate note, I plan to start camping on a much more consistent basis. I will be purchasing my own camping gear soon and heading out as often as I can. I hope to accomplish one of the items on my list of things to do by heading out on my own one of these days too. What is it about camping that is so appealing to certain people? Is it just being out there in the wilderness with a minimum of things? The peacefulness does help you clear your mind and put things in perspective. I know for me it’s partly that but also a bit like living on the edge in that it’s a way to live like our ancestors did while still having that tiny grasp on the modern world to hedge against any mishaps. Now more than ever, I see it as a way to escape the dreariness that is your everyday life and having to deal with complicated issues. Everything is just so simple out there. I’ve always enjoyed camping since I was small but for some reason (lack of gear, motivation, opportunity, and company for one) I got away from it. This trip brought that love back. The peacefulness of reading a book on a cool day while the wind rustles the trees and a woodpecker makes a racket in the distance as it tries to get its next meal is something that can’t be found in city life. Or try waking up to the gobbling of a wild turkey in the near hills and trying to stalk it without it hearing you just to get a glimpse of what your Thanksgiving dinner looks like before it gets to your table. How about sitting around a campfire in the dead of night hypnotized by the dancing flames; trying to keep warm as you look up as see the sky littered with stars looking as if someone threw glitter into the air and it just stayed there, suspended in time. The poetry of it all is addicting.
Now that I've setup the atmosphere for how I tried this new beer, you can bet that I was expecting something grand to accompany these memories. I was honestly hoping it would be a little colder when I popped open this brew but the day had been warm with few clouds and it wasn't as chilly as the night before. I popped open the cap and tried to get a whiff of the tasty beverage. The cold weather made it a little more difficult to pickup on the subtleties this brew no doubt carried. I was able to pickup a nice roasted malt character followed by coffee and chocolate notes that is typical of the Porter style. The first sip brought that familiar Porter taste but with a slight twist. The malts were the first thing I noted and coffee and chocolate flavors immediately began to dominate. The kicker was the slight smoky taste that lingered at the end. Definitely a good brew but not to the level I was expecting from a Stone Brewery ale. The anticipation built this thing up in my mind more than anything but it is still a solid beer to try. The mouthfeel was definitely full-bodied with the right amount of carbonation. Another interesting thing about this beer was the hops bite the began to emerge as the beer warmed. That is something I've never had and wouldn't have expected from this beer and I was pleasantly surprised. Typical of most Stone beers, this one came in a big bottle and it was a chore to finish the whole thing because of the strong character but I was up to the task. I think the beer was just right for the occasion, could've been a little better but considering the style I could've done worse. I will say that about all the Stone beers I've tried, they definitely don't skimp on the ingredients and use only the finest. I would recommend this beer to anyone who's interested in trying the style and I would probably get it again although not ahead of other Stone offerings.
