Conjuring up images of thick, creamy and chocolatey coffees at the side of tree-lined Italian avenues, macchiato is more an association with sophisticated lunches rather than beer.
But as a beer, specifically a porter, it just makes sense. Coffee, chocolate and dark beers are a match made in heaven, a classic combination that has been popular amongst brewers for years.
This one from Wylam throws hazelnut and praline into the mix for some extra-decadence, evoking images of luxurious desserts in high-end restaurants rather than a humble porter.
More like Macchiato...
Definite coffee and an earthy hazelnut aroma which is very nice, leading into a thick and rich pour that is pretty dense for a porter, which are normally a little lighter.
The coffee is quite fresh, more akin to the cold-brew variety which gives a very clear taste and really adds to the body. Along with the fresh, slightly bitter coffee flavour there's also a subtle sweetness there, combining well with the vein of nuttiness running through the entire flavour profile.
The aftertaste is quite sweet, which was quite surprising given the dominance of coffee and nuts in the rest of the beer, but it's very welcome. There's a little bitterness but it's well balanced and a wonderful drinking experience.
Wylam's cans are very much set to a similar design theme: the black box in the middle of the front with the beer name, style and their logo in the circle. That being said, there's a lot of variety in the rest of the wrap and this one ties in nicely with the name.
Leaves and geometric shapes may not scream 'macchiato' to you, but considering the brown shades contrasted with the dark grey, it's a very classically coffee image.
If I had to pin it down to a description in just a few words, i'd say coffee shop wallpaper. Busy enough to be attractive to the eye, relevant colour scheme and interesting enough to be slightly different.
Get one of these decadent beers to store next to the coffee and/or chocolate for just £5.08 if you're an Honest Brew member, else it will be the still-cheaper-than-a-large-coffee price of £5.79 if you're not a member.
