What I’m about to say might be considered blasphemy by some in these parts, but I’ll say it anyway.  Big Sky Brewing’s regular lineup of beers doesn’t really “do it” for me. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying it’s bad beer. Far from it. I’m just reinforcing the basic tenant of this blog which I describe under the “Its All Relative” section in the side bar.  Taste is subjective.

But plop down a few of Big Sky’s seasonal and specialty brews and we’re talking a whole ‘nother story. Ivan The Terrible Imperial Stout? Awesome. I’m still waiting for the right occasion to open up and compare a 2008 bottle with a 2009 bottle. When I picked up a bottle of Big Sky’s limited release of Bobo’s Robust Porter last winter, I knew I’d need to stock up.  So stock up I did, though it disappeared all too fast.

Frankly, having seen nothing on Big Sky’s website that suggested Bobo’s would become a regular thing, I was surprised (and thrilled) to see it back in stores and at the brewery last week. Bobo’s is a robust porter and, as Big Sky says, “robust” is a bit of an understatement as far as porters go. It is medium-full bodied with a roasted malt/coffee like punch. Bobo’s pours a solid black with a dark tan head.  It has a strong roasted malt/earthy aroma with hints of coffee and chocolate.  There’s a great coffee-like bite to it provided by the roasted malts and relatively aggressive hop levels. I even get a slight smokiness before it finishes with strong dark chocolate flavors. As a big fan of robust porters, this one sits high among my favorites.

As for the name, legend has it that Bobo was a pretty resilient Chihuahua, but you’ll have to get the full story from the fine folks at Big Sky Brewing.

Name: Bobo’s Robust Porter
Brewery: Big Sky Brewing Co., Missoula, MT.
Style: Robust porter.
Color: Black, with a dark tan head.
Packaging: 12 oz bottle.
Stats: 6.2% abv, 30 IBUs.
Bought: Worden’s Market, Missoula, MT.
Ruling: Four out of Five Hops. If you’re a fan of robust porters, you’ll be a fan of this one.