It takes a Strong Man

by Barclay Nelson

Brewer Dan Heinzerling at Dallas-based Humperdink’s recently unveiled the latest version of the Strongman Imperial Porter.  He has refined his recipe for four years now and the latest 4.0 version is a chocolaty treat.  <

To give you some background on the name, the name Strongman is a reference to the so called “strong men” in czarist Russia that ruled local communities in the absence of political figures.  Or it may just speak of Dan’s affinity for international strong man competitions.  The Imperial name implies higher alcohol content and flavor. And Porter is a category similar to a Stout. 

Porters like Stouts are full bodied dark English beers with loads of malted barley.  However, the Porter’s roasted flavor is chocolaty rather than the coffee-ish flavor found in Stouts.  Higher alcohol content beers like these Porters have long brewing cycles taking about 3 months to brew unlike a typical micro beer which might take 3-4 weeks.  All this added time builds in complexity and thick flavor. 

The Strongman Imperial Porter’s name is most apropos as it imbues it’s imbibers with a feeling power.  Yup, it’s heavy and dark.  You don’t want to spill one of these on a white shirt.  Or then again maybe its power derives from the hefty 8% alcohol content.  Dan warns “it will sneak up on people if they’re not aware of it”.  This is especially true as the common Porter alcohol taste is more hidden than typical Stouts and Porter’s.  Also, while Porter’s typically have a lingering aftertaste; the Strongman Imperial Porter “comes off the palette cleanly” as Dan says. 

Dan Heinzerling has been brewing for 13 years and has won three of the coveted Great American Beer Festival medals.  I think you’ll enjoy his craft and his latest work.  If you can track him down at Humperdink’s on Greenville Ave in Dallas, he’d love to talk beer with you.  More info at http://www.humperdinks.com/

Barclay Nelson is a Financial Marketing & Research Consultant that likes to taste new beers, test drive cars, fly fish and smoke cigars.