In you told me a few years ago how many fruit infused beers I would drink and enjoy, I would have never believed you. In fairness, the majority of fruit beers on the market even a few years ago were still lighter wheat ales with massive doses of cloying artificial fruit flavor. Over the last couple years creative breweries have found a number of delicious ways to incorporate fresh fruit flavors into an array of beer styles. The most obvious examples are the citrus and tropical fruit infused IPAs and fruit flavored sour beer styles. Some brewers have found even more creative ways to add subtle fruit flavors to a wide range of beer styles, even some combinations that sound strange at first glance. A good example is the Blackberry Porter from RiverWalk Brewing Company. I am a huge fan of porters, but I don’t know that I’ve even tried a fruit infused version of the style. I can see how it would work, good porters have chocolate and coffee notes, and subtle fruit flavors can complement these types of dark malts. RiverWalk Blackberry Porter is available now on draft and in 16 oz. tallboy cans.
RiverWalk Blackberry Porter pours pitch black with a massive purple-tined tan head. The aroma is mostly dark malts, roasty and sweet. The flavor is also malt forward, notes of milk chocolate, espresso and caramel. The blackberry flavor is subtle, enough to add complexity without being assertive. The beer has minimal hop flavor and just enough bitterness to crisp up the finish. Blackberry Porter is full bodied but drinks very easy for a beer with 8.5% ABV. The finish is rich with some lingering dark malt flavor. This is a really well made porter with an interesting twist, definitely a good beer for the upcoming winter months. Hoppy Boston score: 4.5/5.
Previous Riverwalk Reviews:
RiverWalk Winter Porter, RiverWalk Farm to Kettle 2015, RiverWalk Screen Door
Hoppy Boston 
