This comes from the same brewer that also does Fraoch Heather Ale and was as interesting in its own way. Kelpie is brewed with seaweed which imparts a distinct essence to this beer. Kelpie poured black as mud with a weak tan head. The carbonation sounded like a soda after I poured it. Its aroma was fresh like the air at the beach (clean, salty and just a little fishy). As it warmed chocolate and roasted malt notes developed. There was also something interesting and odd about the flavor that I could not pin point. I have to assume it was the seaweed. The backbone was chocolaty and slightly smokey but it was mild and watered down. By watered down I mean there is a certain hollowness about the flavor that tames what could be a very rich beer. It is like the vast expanse of the ocean tempers an otherwise full flavor beer. For such a dark porter type of beer it was very clean and crisp. The body was heavy with a light amount of carbonation. The mild carbonation gave the beer a velvety texture. For my taste I prefer Froach. However this really is a neat beer for those that would like to try a novel porter. February 2009
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