Gnomeberry Hollow Cherry Porter

Style: Cherry Porter
Brewer: SheppyBrew
ABV: 6.2%
IBU: 28
SRM: 40 (shadow-black)

Appearance 👀

Pours inky black with a dense tan head that settles into a creamy cap. Held to light, faint ruby glints flicker at the edges, like fireflies escaping a hollow log. The body is opaque and shadowy, cloaking the cherry secrets within.

Aroma 👃

Roasted malt and cocoa rise first, followed by a burst of tart cherry—bright, fresh, and slightly wild. Beneath it all, hints of vanilla, toasted almond, and damp earth evoke the forest floor after rain. It smells like dessert and mystery.

Flavor 👅

Smooth waves of chocolate and coffee roll across the tongue, balanced by a cherry tang that’s neither cloying nor sour. The fruit is woven in—not syrupy, but natural—like a handful of ripe Montmorency cherries tossed into a porter’s cauldron. A touch of caramel and nutty malt rounds out the sip, finishing dry with a whisper of fruit skin tannin.

Mouthfeel 🫦

Medium-bodied with a velvety texture and gentle carbonation. It’s plush but nimble, like moss underfoot. The cherry acidity adds lift, keeping the roast from feeling heavy. It’s a porter with a playful bounce.

Overall Impression 💭

Gnomeberry Hollow Cherry Porter is a woodland delight—dark enough to satisfy roasted cravings, bright enough to surprise. It’s a beer for twilight hikes, fireside tales, and gnome-sized feasts. Balanced, flavorful, and quietly enchanting.

The Legend of Gnomeberry Hollow 📜

Deep in the wooded folds of the SheppyBrew realm lies a secret grove known only to the brewing gnomes: Gnomeberry Hollow. There, wild berry bushes bloom under moonlight, their fruit guarded by mischievous sprites and a particularly grumpy badger named Bristlewhisk.

Originally, the gnomes set out to brew a blueberry porter, inspired by the plump, indigo berries that grew in the northern thickets. They gathered their malts, summoned their yeast, and prepared the cauldron. But just as they reached for the final ingredient, a shadow swept through the grove.

It was Witch Malvina of the Withered Fruit, a jealous sorceress who despised blueberries for their cheerful hue and antioxidant smugness. With a flick of her wand and a cackle that curdled wort, she hexed the harvest—turning every blueberry into a cherry with a puff of sour smoke and a swirl of red mist.

The gnomes were stunned. Bristlewhisk fainted. But rather than despair, the brewers adapted. They plucked the enchanted cherries, sang their brewing songs, and crafted a porter so rich, so roasty, and so fruitfully balanced that even Malvina couldn’t resist a sip.

Thus, Gnomeberry Hollow Cherry Porter was born—not by design, but by destiny. Its tap handle features a gnome hoisting a cherry-laden stein atop a mossy stump, with Bristlewhisk peeking out and Malvina sulking in the background. They say if you drink it while sitting on a tree stump and whisper “Roasty. Fruity. Hollow.” three times, you’ll hear the gnomes giggling in the breeze—and maybe a witch muttering about antioxidants.

If you ever find yourself at SheppyBrew brewery, be sure to ask for a pint of Gnomeberry Hollow Cherry Porter. Bristlewhisk and Malvina probably won't be around, but the gnomes will certainly be willing to join you for a pint or several.

They will certainly tell stories about brewing this beer.

As always ...keep an eye on the regular SheppyBrew Channels to see what is happening with beer, barbeque, biking and other things in my life: SheppyBrew's Facebook Page; Sheppy's Twitter Feed; SheppyBrew's Instagram Page; and SheppyBrew's Website.