The second PorterFest at Freetail Brewing Company opened on Saturday with five different versions of their Torpor Porter. Each was made in a five-gallon batch. Some had flavors added before fermentation, others afterward. All demonstrated how this style of beer can grow and change with the brewer’s imagination
The masala porter had strong notes of cardamom pods and was reminiscent of chai spice. The vanilla, made with bourbon-soaked vanilla beans, had a subtle fragrance and was pleasant without a sugary taste. A smoky spiciness accompanied the chipotle, which finished with a soft burn. Ryan Closner, a Freetail employee, served us the cherry, which is made with juice and tastes like fresh cherries. Unlike some other major brands of cherry porter, this version tasted nothing like cloying cough syrup. The coffee porter, true to other versions, tasted like a fizzy coffee; it would have been pleasant to sip this the whole afternoon.
Even though the PorterFest ended on Saturday, the remainder of the batches will be sold until they run out. Due to small batch size and popularity of the flavors, Sunday is probably the last day you can sample them. Once they are gone, you can still enjoy their regular-flavored porter, the Torpor.
If porter is not your thing, Freetail currently has the following brews on tap: Old Bat Rastard, La Rubia, Rye Wit, Freetail Ale, Pail Tail, and One. On Saturdays and Sunday, they also currently make Witmosas, a refreshing combination of Rye Wit and orange juice. Owner Scott Metzger joked that it is great for a hangover.
There are still more events to Freetail’s Feb-BREW-ary: La Muerta bottle release, beer dinner, beer and cheese seminar, and “The Battle of the Wits”. Metzger expects six to seven flavored wits will be competing this year. There are only 10 seats left for the beer dinner, which is priced at $45 per person, plus tax and gratuity. This popular event usually sells out so reserve your space early.
For more information on Feb-BREW-ary, please see our Feb. 1st article.
Freetail Brewing Co.
4035 N. Loop 1604 W., Suite 105
San Antonio, TX 78257
www.freetailbrewing.com
(210) 395-4974
