About this time last year Maxim Brewery released a seasonal brew, Coffee Porter. Fellow CAMRA members were going on about it at the time but I didnt manage to find any to try ; - sold out. Determined that was not going to happen in 2016, I first broached the subject when I spent a day at the brewery last year. *
"April / May " I was told.
Further updates were extracted from the brewery until at the time of the brew in April I managed to reserve myself a minicask to drink at home. I wasn't going to risk missing out in a pub again.
Now coffee flavoured beers are not that common but most of the ones I have tried have been at beer festivals. Batemans Mocha and Dark Star Espresso Coffee Beer spring to mind. At this years Newcastle Beer Festival recently there was Bandwagon Coffee Porter from Hadrian and Border. The guy who pulled the drink said he thought it just tasted of cold coffee. Nevertheless, yours truly enjoyed it, as I do most dark speciality beers.
Anyhow, back to the Maxim. Picking up the minicask last month, I stored it in the garage to settle then jetted off to Majorca for a week, to suffer some crappy Spanish drinks **. On return, I thought that this May Day Bank Holiday I would have a Coffee Porter Weekend. 
Filling up a jug in the garage and carefully carrying it indoors, I poured some , and a generous sip for Mrs Ken. Obviously there was a hint of coffee in the aroma ( I'm crap with smells, but got this one) Perhaps Mrs Ken can sum up the tasting experience :-
"It tastes like cold coffee ( see above) but soon it wraps itself around your tongue and lingers there for a while."
This beer is dangerously drinkable ( its 4.5%). So far Ive had between 5 and 6 pints ( the minicask holds just under 9) , so more to look forward to today then. I just wish there was some sort of indicator to tell you how much is left. We shall see tonight !!
There may be still some out there in a pub somewhere; give it a try
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