Noche Dulce is an American Porter brewed by Borderlands Brewing Co., and for the purposes of this craft beer review, the ale was served in a nonic pint glass from a 16 oz. can.

Packaging art for the Noche Dulce by Borderlands Brewing Co.

What You Need to Know

The Noche Dulce features notes of cocoa, espresso, and a delicately roasted barley. They blend nicely with real Mexican vanilla from the Arizona Vanilla Company. So how was it? Let’s get to the review.

Appearance

The Porter pours an opaque cola brown and is topped by an inch-thick cap of watery brown froth that dissipates rapidly. The head’s reduction leaves behind a mottled swirl of tiny bubbles.

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Aroma

The aroma is strikingly sweet with a scent of sugary vanilla.

Flavor

The palate is led by bready malt and a mild espresso flavor. The tasting builds to an even sharper roast malt character. Its finish is then mellowed by sweet notes of vanilla and chocolate.

Label art for the Noche Dulce by Borderlands Brewing Co.

Mouthfeel

The Noche Dulce’s feel has a smooth draw that picks up a light grain on the back end. Its roast character imparts a very mild astringency while the body is a shade under medium and has moderate carbonation.

Overall

The head’s retention is poor which is somewhat disappointing. The aroma is strong and persistent, even while it is quite sweet. Thankfully, the roast character in the palate provides its taste with far better balance. Its ABV is high for the style but is masked well. However, its feel seems a tad thin. Noche Dulce has a lovely flavor but its other attributes keep it from excelling.

Recommended Pairings

Borderlands recommends chicken mole or carne asada as food pairings with their Noche Dulce American Porter.