Berkshire Coffeehouse Porter

This is a coffee-flavored beer from Massachusetts, sold as a four-pack of 16-ounce containers. The "BBC Coffee" name points to a coffee-driven beer, and in this category that most often means a stout or porter built on dark roasted malt. No ABV or IBU is listed for this one, so treat the profile below as what the style usually delivers rather than a measured spec sheet. Expect roasted aromatics first: fresh-ground coffee, a touch of cocoa, and perhaps some toasted bread crust from the malt. Coffee beers of this type usually rely on roast character for their bitterness rather than hops, so the finish tends to be dry and espresso-like instead of piney or citrusy. Body can range from medium and smooth to fairly full, with a creamy feel if oats or lactose are involved. The label or can is the place to confirm which. At the table, it works best with foods that can stand up to roast and bitterness. Smoked brisket, grilled sausages, aged cheddar or gouda, and burgers with caramelized onions all hold their own. For dessert, chocolate brownies, tiramisu, or vanilla ice cream, which makes a simple float, complement the coffee notes well. Serve it at roughly 45 to 55°F, a few degrees warmer than a typical lager. Straight from the refrigerator, the cold mutes the coffee and malt, so give it ten minutes on the counter. A tulip, snifter, or nonic pint glass suits it, since the narrower top concentrates the roasted aromas and supports the tan head. A pint glass is fine if that is what you have. With 16 ounces per can, a single pour fills a standard pint.