Holgate Brewhouse Temptress Chocolate Porter (6%)

This beer takes a more complex approach compared to the Young's Double Chocolate Stout with a more roasted malt notes.  This roasted malt translated into a darker colour and also brought in hints of coffee flavours into the beer.
The vanilla could be smelt in the aroma but on taste, we found it on the edge of the beer which seemed to reflect our attempt.  The coffee taste could also have been masking the taste of the vanilla.
We tried the Holgate in combination with the chocolate muffin but found that the combination did not compliment each other as the smokiness from the roasted malt conflicted with the sugary chocolate taste of the muffin.
Overall, the complexity of the beer helped to give a fuller sense of a chocolate flavour.  Like a good dark Belgium chocolate, you have a richness in flavour which is balanced by the bitterness of the cocoa. This made the Holgate a fine beer to drink in general and seemed to achieve the balance and complexity of flavours that we would strive for in our own brews of this type.

- Beef & Stass