When the calendar turned over from December, 2022, to January, 2023, I briefly contemplated participating in another Dry January, of restraining myself from consuming any alcohol for the first month of the new year.
And then a couple of things occurred to me: I've done a Dry January and found it to be no challenge at all; I've even done a Dry July, abstaining from booze during the hottest and one of the most socially active times of the year; I have a lot of beer in my fridge and some of it is getting long in the tooth (I don't drink a lot in one sitting); I'm going away, on vacation, during the last week of January and you can bet I'll be having alcoholic drinks.
Dry January isn't going to happen for me this year. Best of luck to those of you who have taken up the challenge. I have reviewed some non-alcoholic beer in the past: maybe take a look for those and come back to this review in February.
In my attempt to empty my beer fridge, to make way for new brews in 2023, I'm turning to a porter that I picked up in Toronto, in November, but haven't yet cracked open. Until this week, that is.
The can, admittedly, is a bit on the plain side and I might have normally ignored the simple reddish-brown, white-stamped label for something more colourful that jumps out at you. But when I was in this Toronto LCBO, I was actually in the mood for either a stout or a porter, and many of these cans were stacked amongst other dark ales. I had never tried a beer from this brewery so I added two cans to my cart.
Clifford Brewing Co.
East Hamilton, ON
Appearance: pours a clear-ish walnut brown with red highlights. There wasn't much of a hiss when I cracked open the can and I was nervous that this porter would be flat, but a perfect, 1-centimetre foamy-beige head formed before settling to a solid, creamy cap.
Nose: dark-roasted coffee and cocoa powder, with just a hint of prunes.
Palate: cocoa powder leads the charge, followed by rich espresso coffee. There's a light sweetness of prunes in the finish and almost a juxtaposition of dryness and sweetness. You can taste the higher alcohol content without feeling it overpower the other flavours. But it's there.
Overall impression: this is a solid porter that almost leans a bit toward the Baltic porter style of ale. There's a rich roastedness of the hops that give it an almost earthy mouthfeel but is backed up with the coffee and cocoa. I almost always anticipate a bit of sweetness in a porter and this one does not disappoint with the prune-like finish.
This is a great porter to enjoy on a cold winter's evening.
Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺
My first brew of 2023 has been a solid one. I'm looking forward to seeing which beer crosses my path in the coming year. And while I'm not participating in Dry January, I wish the best to those of you who have taken on the challenge. Give this porter a try in February.
Cheers!
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