Banks Brewing Co - Throw Pillow Marshmallow Porter - Beer Review

Review Date: 3/12/2021
Brewery Name: Banks Brewing Co (Seaford, Victoria, Australia)
Beer Name: Throw Pillow Marshmallow Porter

Beer number 3 of our Beer Cartel Advent Calendar for 2021

Check out our full run down and review of the 2021 Beer Cartel Christmas Beer Advent Calendar

"A big dark malt base is where we start. Layered with numerous Chocolate malts, Oats & wheat. Lactose is then added for texture, mouthfeel & an element of Cream. This all provides the slick smooth coating for the beer. Then we begin the mallowing. Marshmallows added throughout the boil before being sent to condition on Tahitian Vanilla Bean.

The result is a dark, soft, lucious sweet stout that is not overwhelming in any of its elements but very rounded. Let it warm a little for the beer's true character and get all mallowed out."

Banks Brewing Co - Throw Pillow Marshmallow Porter Can

General

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 6.1% (High Strength)




Label/Design: 7/10 - cool, eye catching design with soft pastel colours to give that soft, marshmallow vibe

Serving Style: Can - 355ml

Region of Origin: Pacific (Australia, New Zealand)

Style Family: Porter

Malts/Adjuncts: Various chocolate malts, oats, wheat, lactose, marshmallows, vanilla bean (conditioning)

Hops: Unknown

IBU's: Unknown

Appearance

Colour: Black

Clarity

Brilliant

Clear

Slight Haze

Hazy

Collar of Foam & Head Retention

None

Poor (Up to 15 secs)

Moderate (15 - 60 secs)

Good (more than 60 secs)

Foam Texture

N/A

Thin

Fluffy

Mousse-Like

Carbonation (Visible)

None

Slow

Medium

Fast-Rising Bubbles

Alcohol Aroma

Not Detectable

Mild

Noticeable

Strong

Harsh

Aroma & Flavour

Esters Aroma: None
Phenols: Smoky

We found the malt flavours and aromas to be almost identical

Alcohol Taste:

Not Detectable

Mild

Noticeable

Strong

Harsh

Hop Bitterness:

Restrained

Moderate

Aggressive

Harsh

Malt Sweetness:

Low

Medium

High

Cloying (Excessive)

Astringency: 

Low

Medium

High

Palate/Mouthfeel: 

Light Bodied (Thin/Watery)

Medium Bodied (Light + Full)

Full Bodied (Round, Rich & Creamy)

Palate Carbonation: 

Low

Medium

High

Length/Finish:

Short (Up to 15 seconds)

Medium (15 to 60 seconds)

Long (More than 60 seconds)

Oxidative/Aged Qualities: None

Overall

Banks Brewing Co - Marshmallow Porter in the Craftd Alpha glass

Drinkability: 6/10

Overall Impression: 7/10

Notes

Porters aren’t our favorite style of beer but this was enjoyable. The flavours definitely mellowed and blended a little better as the beer warmed up a bit. Really strong chocolate notes, hints of coffee and other toasty, roasty flavors. Really good mouthfeel that stuck around after each sip. Quite bitter but well matched with a lot of malt presence and subdued hoppiness. Can design is cool, and interesting mix of ingredients. Marshmallows in the boil? And conditioning on vanilla beans?!