Work has meant I’ve had to put the hobby beer drinking on the back-burner for a little bit. I currently have a backlog of both beers that have been drunk and prime for review and beers that are nestled away in my fridge waiting to be cracked open. This ‘Coco Van Porter’ from Black Isle Brewery, up in Scotland, is one I’ve had shuffling around my shelves for far to long! It is a coconut and vanilla porter at a respectable 5.7% ABV. As with all Black Isle beers this is also organic.

Visually, the beer pours a marmite black with a thing beige head. There is a rich dark chocolate on the nose, mixed in with a sweetness, that is very reminiscent of coco butter. The body is a little thinner than what I was expecting but this does make for easier drinking. The coconut is subtle but present and the porter aspect comes through in spades with a lovely smokey, toasty finish on the end!

A quick note on the can art: I really like this can for some reason. Perhaps it’s the simplicity of just using overlapping coconut tree leaves but I think it is a really clean design.

Having had a couple of dark beers from the Black Isle range it is very solid but nothing crazy. I was expecting a thicker body that would really carry the flavour of coconut. However it is more like a Guinness in that it is surprisingly drinkable and refreshing. All the coconut flavoured beers I’ve had, for me, have failed to live up to the expectation I have in my mind. Perhaps that’s due to the ingredient itself rather than the breweries but I hold out hope, either way, for an incredible coconut stout or porter. ‘Coco Van’ is also vegan, which is rare for dark beers like this which often add lactose to bulk up the body, and I’d argue it is a great option for someone who is seeking out the style.

Score: 7.5/10

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Additional Information:

• Hops: Not Available
• Malt: Not Available
• IBU: Not Available
• ABV: 5.7%
• Gluten Free: No
• Vegan: Yes!