Another beer place in Tirana. Mostly foreign beers but some local ones, too. This beer proved to be difficult to identify. The bartender knew it's a "porter". That's pretty much it. The tap label's "Craft & Natural Albania" and "Plis Beer" (note: misspelling) give a homebrew that looks pale. So, obviously, the tap label is incorrect. But: when searching with the place on Untappd, something happened! Scrolling the feed some days backwards, I spot "Porter" by Pan's Microbrewery. Bingo! I bet it's what I have in the glass! 🕵🏼‍♂️ Okay, the beer looks opaque black. The foamy cap is attractive, sand-hued and supercreamy. Initially, four fingers tall, descends sluggishly. Clings tightly to the glass. The scent puts forward roasted malt, a faint coffeeish hint and a wisp of ash. The tastebuds receive fairly strong roasted malt, bitter black coffee, ash, blackcurrant twig and a dash of rye flour. The mouthfeel is roasty, burned, husky, a tad dry and moderately drying.

Wife's choice = additional beer to me. The appearance is clear gold. A clean white, velvety head. Grainy malt in the air. Only. Modest amount. The same grainy malt finds my tastebuds. A moderate sweet-leaning twist here: biscuit, melon and a suggestion of hops. The sensation is light, marginally crisp, relatively soft, smooth and sessionable. Easy.

Flight 4/5. Muddy, black beer. A beautiful tan crown plus a haze. Intensive black coffee in the air. Turkish? Not really. Coffee flows appealingly in my mouth but I still can't get a Turkish impression of it. Lactose? Raw cacao powder, a small injection of roasted malt and something odd... wait! Is it cardamom? If it is, then I buy the idea of a Turkish coffee here. The impression is light to light-medium, a tad dry, drying, lip-glueing but also distantly astringent. Interesting.

Flight 3/5. Turbid, raisin brown beer. The foamy lid is quite white though, not tall, and leaves decorative cobwebs on the glass. The fragrance is not particularly powerful but emits at least cherry, redcurrant, biscuit and bitter caramel. The gustatory universe is composed of red berries, maybe a whisper of cherry actually, bitter caramel, grassy hops and biscuit. Feels light-medium, juicy, marginally dry and lip-glueing. Nice for the style!

Time for another 🇦🇱 flight! This taproom is obviously Tirana's #1 beer heaven. Yeah! Let's shake it! Flight 1/5. Limpid copper beer. (The colors look strange in the pic, by the way...). A bright white, silky foam. Soft and messy. Mandarin, pink grapefruit and biscuit in the fragrance. Pink grapefruit, orange pith, mandarin, biscuit and a drop of resin in the taste profile. The mouthfeel is medium to medium-full, crisp, slightly dry but lip-glueing. Has some classical elements but not like 100 % on the spot. Works alright anyway!

Mielenkiintoinen lager. Maussa häivähdys sitrusta.