Sweetwater Brewing Co. - Georgia Brown

Bio
Over the past 6 months or so, I've noticed Atlanta-based Sweetwater's brews slowly popping up in more places throughout the Triangle area.  Sweet Georgia is, predictably, their brown ale.

5.1 ABV

Appearance
Sweet Georgia is a bit lighter than most brown ales. It has a bright, copper color. The appearance is somewhat hazy, but you can easily tell that it's quite carbonated, with some rather large bubbles rising into a foamy, cream-colored head.

Aroma
Light, sweet, malty. The aroma is mostly caramel, with a slightly sour character as it warms.

Taste & Feel
Sweet, smooth, medium body. Apple and caramel are prominent in the malty flavor. It has a light carbonated tingle and a very mild hop bite. The surprise comes near the finish, where instead of the sweetness you expect from a brown, some some grapefruit hoppiness comes through.

Verdict
I found this to be a pretty enjoyable beer. A solid B+. The hoppy finish was certainly a surprise and added a welcomed level of complexity to an otherwise simple, straightforward brown ale.

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Black Boss Porter

Bio
Another suggestion from Ken at East Wake Wines, who is quickly becoming my beer concierge. Black Boss Porter is brewed by Poland's Browar Witnica.

9.4% ABV

Appearance
Very dark cola brown color. It's not quite opaque, and actually somewhat 'clear' despite the very dark color.... almost jewel-like.  It also has a thin, tan head with tight bubbles and almost no lacing.  There appears to be significant carbonation.

Aroma
Very aromatic. Rich and malty. The aroma is sweet and sticky. Dried fruits are prominent and I'm picking up dates more than anything. There's also a hint of licorice in the nose.

Taste & Feel
Different than most porters in that the aggressive carbonation hits right away.
The medium body has a sweet, plummy flavor filled with subtle chocolate notes. The finish is interesting... dry, with a lingering tingle.

(Wouldn't lingering tingle be a great name for a band? No? )

Verdict
A pretty good beer. Not as smooth as most porters, but definitely worth a try.

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