Black Caddis by Wren House is a dark Porter brewed with chocolate rye, and is being evaluated as an American Porter (2015 BJCP Category 20A) offering according to BJCP guidelines. For this style expect a substantial malty beer, both stronger and more aggressive than historical Porters. This beer delivers on these characteristics.
Sweet dark malts with chocolate and roast character greet your nose as it nears the glass. Further into the initial sniff an earthy and tobacco character enter the fray. Earthy, herbal and woody hops are light along with some oats and black pepper. Dark brown to black in color, this beer has a medium, frothy and bubbly beige head which fairly quickly becomes a very thin film on top yet leaves enough at the edge to form some spotty lacing. A substantial dark roast and coffee malt flavor introduces the medium earthy and herbal hops and medium bitterness, more so to the hops than dark malt. The beer is fairly balanced though the bitterness lingers into the finish, closely followed by dark the dark malts. This medium bodied Porter provides moderate carbonation with light carbonic bite.
Overall, this is a well-made Porter showcasing both dark malts and earthy hops. Later on the roast malt begins to dominate as the bitter hops take a side seat. Caramelized onions and beef brisket burnt ends would pair well with this and a pungent blue cheese.