Oakham Omertà Hopped Porter

Tasting Summary

These comments are the opinion of the individual reviewer and represent what they thought of the beer on a particular day in a particular pub. If a review is less favourable, it may be because the beer suffered somewhere in the supply chain between them and the brewery.

St Albans Beer Festival 2026, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		26 Sep 2026	7th beer of this festival visit: A foamy top to it with lasting lacing all the way on this hopped porter which I have never tried before from Oakham Ales, with its brewing equipment first erected in 1993 actually in Oakham, Rutland. As demand grew bigger and harder to contain, in 1998 Oakham moved into an old labour exchange in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, before in 2006 opening an even larger, purpose-built 75-barrel brewhouse in Woodston, south-west of Peterborough city centre, Cambridgeshire, to keep the liquid pumping. A sweetened bitter first hit. A dry fruited hoppiness rising. A malty fruitiness prevailing from its Hana Heritage Malt lending a smooth, receptive bed for the darker varieties, and Carafa Special 2 and 3 Malts, which are dark, de-husked German varieties, behind its black complexion and used for stripping away any harsh bitterness. The latter was stroking my palate with smoky, roasty and toasty hints for me. Not in the least sweet with a lingering clean bitterness aided by its Bramling Cross Hops lending a fruity, spicy tickle on the front of my mouth before the climax in coaxing out blackcurrant, passionfruit and lemon zest mixed with a touch of earthy spice. Served on top form.