Hale's Ales is in Seattle, Washington. Technically, the brewery is north of Downtown, between Fremont and Ballard. Hale's Ales have been around quite a while; I'm not sure how I've missed hearing about them, or seeing their beer in six packs, but I have. This year they're celebrating their 25th anniversary. The other night at a local Seattle eatery, Hale's Ales Troll Porter was on on tap as a special; I tried it, intrigued by the name, since it immediately evoked images of the Fremont Troll, a beloved area landmark.

Troll Porter is made with Pale malted barley, Caramel, Chocolate, Black and Special Roast Malts, Nugget and Mount Hood hops, and brewed with Hale's own special yeast. It's the sweetest, most mellow, and "chocolaty" of the Porters I've had yet. Although it's not a traditional Porter pairing, I'm very curious about how Troll Porter might work with chili, or perhaps a barbecued or pulled pork sandwich that's slightly on the spicy side. I like this Porter very very much; I think I might developing a thing for dark beers. This was so very very drinkable that I was a little surprised to discover it's 6.9 ABV. I honestly thought it would be somewhere between 5.0 and 6.0 ABV. I've not seen Troll Porter in six packs; it is available in the Pacific Northwest in bottles, as well as right from the brewery at their brew pub in Seattle.